The Town FilesJonesboro, Louisiana
Town in Jackson Parish · population 4,106 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $80,300
- Household income
- $41,786
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 37.6
Jonesboro is a town of 4,106 people in Jackson Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $80,300, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of Louisiana towns, better for a vacation home than 95% of Louisiana towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of Louisiana towns.
- #3 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Louisiana
- #6 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Louisiana
- #6 in 25 Small Towns in Louisiana With the Cheapest Homes
- #8 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #8 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #22 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Louisiana
How Jonesboro ranks
Percentile among Louisiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Louisiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Jonesboro is worth $80,300, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $41,786, which is more affordable than 92% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $705 a month. 49.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jonesboro | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $80,300 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $705 | $887 |
| Median household income | $41,786 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 49.2% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Jonesboro
| People | Jonesboro | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.8% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.1% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 18.3 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.6% | 84.6% |
Weather in Jonesboro
July highs average 93.1°F and January lows 35.9°F. About 60.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 88 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 42 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jonesboro since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 12, 1961 about 0.7 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 43 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 6, 2018.
Severe weather in Jackson Parish since 1996
Jackson Parish has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 18, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4900: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3638: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 10, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3614: Tropical Storm Francine |
| September 13, 2021 | Coastal Storm | EM-3574: Tropical Storm Nicholas |
| August 29, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4611: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Jackson Parish
Jackson Parish had 3,866 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,041 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Jonesboro itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in Jonesboro
4 public schools with 1,341 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weston High School | PK-12 | 632 | 13.2 |
| Jonesboro-Hodge Elementary School | PK-5 | 332 | 11.9 |
| Jonesboro-Hodge High School | 9-12 | 222 | 9.7 |
| Jonesboro-Hodge Middle School | 6-8 | 155 | 10.3 |
Towns near Jonesboro
- Grambling, LA20.2 mi · 5,239 people · home $181,700
- Ruston, LA21.2 mi · 22,166 people · home $225,300
- Winnfield, LA21.8 mi · 4,153 people · home $80,500
- Arcadia, LA25.1 mi · 2,746 people · home $93,700
Jonesboro questions
Is Jonesboro, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jonesboro scores better for retirees than 96% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 60%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Jonesboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Jonesboro is valued at $80,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,786, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $705 a month.
What is the weather like in Jonesboro?
July highs average 93.1°F and January lows 35.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Jonesboro get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jonesboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 12, 1961. The typical Louisiana town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)