The Town FilesMelville, Louisiana
Town in St. Landry Parish · population 759 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $71,700
- Household income
- $35,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 42° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 45.5
Melville is a town of 759 people in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $71,700, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks quieter than 99% of Louisiana towns, better for families than 88% of Louisiana towns, better transit than 87% of Louisiana towns.
How Melville 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 Melville is worth $71,700, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $35,500, which is more affordable than 89% of Louisiana towns. 61.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Melville | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $71,700 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | — | $887 |
| Median household income | $35,500 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 61.2% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Melville
| People | Melville | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.3% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.2% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.8% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 21.0% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 37.2 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 55.0% | 84.6% |
Weather in Melville
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 41.9°F. About 58.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 90 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 19 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Melville since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 10, 2021 about 7.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 41 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 1, 1964.
Severe weather in St. Landry Parish since 1996
St. Landry Parish has been included in 46 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Tropical Storm | DR-4927: Tropical Storm Arthur |
| 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 St. Landry Parish
St. Landry Parish had 23,554 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,117 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Melville itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Towns near Melville
- Morganza, LA10.0 mi · 525 people · home $121,600
- Fordoche, LA10.4 mi · 910 people · home $183,100
- Krotz Springs, LA11.2 mi · 904 people · home $63,300
- Livonia, LA14.9 mi · 1,212 people · home $211,200
- Port Barre, LA15.4 mi · 1,751 people · home $75,700
- New Roads, LA17.6 mi · 4,549 people · home $168,200
- Ventress, LA19.0 mi · 800 people · home $302,200
- Washington, LA19.1 mi · 742 people · home $85,300
Melville questions
Is Melville, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Melville scores better for retirees than 76% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 99%. 33.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.5).
How much does a house cost in Melville?
The median owner-occupied home in Melville is valued at $71,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,500, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Melville?
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 41.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Melville get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Melville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 10, 2021. 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)