The Town FilesLake Providence, Louisiana
Town in East Carroll Parish · population 3,587 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $115,600
- Household income
- $27,580
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 31.1
Lake Providence is a town of 3,587 people in East Carroll Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $115,600, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for retirees than 93% of Louisiana towns, better for young professionals than 88% of Louisiana towns.
How Lake Providence 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 Lake Providence is worth $115,600, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $27,580, which is more affordable than 14% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $606 a month. 48.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Providence | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $115,600 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $606 | $887 |
| Median household income | $27,580 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 48.6% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Lake Providence
| People | Lake Providence | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.1 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.3% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 39.2% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 14.5 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 69.3% | 84.6% |
Weather in Lake Providence
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 35.8°F. About 58.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 79 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 34 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Providence since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on February 21, 1971 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 10, 2006.
Severe weather in East Carroll Parish since 1996
East Carroll Parish has been included in 32 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 East Carroll Parish
East Carroll Parish had 1,427 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,831 a year. Unemployment was 8.8% in 2023; in Lake Providence itself the ACS puts it at 15.5%.
Public schools in Lake Providence
3 public schools with 785 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southside Elementary School | PK-5 | 383 | 16.0 |
| General Trass High School | 9-12 | 230 | 8.5 |
| Griffin Middle School Academy | 6-8 | 172 | 9.6 |
Towns near Lake Providence
- Oak Grove, LA13.2 mi · 1,441 people · home $87,500
- Rolling Fork, MS18.8 mi · 1,883 people · home $105,100
- Eudora, AR22.5 mi · 1,728 people · home $57,500
- Tallulah, LA27.3 mi · 6,286 people · home $79,300
- Richmond, LA28.6 mi · 511 people · home $161,400
Lake Providence questions
Is Lake Providence, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Providence scores better for retirees than 93% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 30%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.1).
How much does a house cost in Lake Providence?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Providence is valued at $115,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $27,580, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $606 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Providence?
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 35.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Lake Providence get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Providence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on February 21, 1971. 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)