The Town FilesOberlin, Louisiana
Town in Allen Parish · population 1,402 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $96,000
- Household income
- $31,738
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 38.0
Oberlin is a town of 1,402 people in Allen Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $96,000, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for families than 76% of Louisiana towns, quieter than 76% of Louisiana towns, easier by car than 75% of Louisiana towns.
How Oberlin 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 Oberlin is worth $96,000, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $31,738, which is more affordable than 52% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $448 a month. 56.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oberlin | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,000 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $448 | $887 |
| Median household income | $31,738 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 56.1% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Oberlin
| People | Oberlin | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.9% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.8% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.1% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.0% | 84.6% |
Weather in Oberlin
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 39.2°F. About 61.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 79 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 19 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oberlin since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 1, 1967 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 26, 2001.
Severe weather in Allen Parish since 1996
Allen Parish has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 27, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3568: Tropical Storm Ida |
Jobs and pay in Allen Parish
Allen Parish had 7,378 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,734 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Oberlin itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Oberlin
2 public schools with 476 students, about 9.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oberlin Elementary School | PK-6 | 281 | 10.8 |
| Oberlin High School | 7-12 | 195 | 7.8 |
Towns near Oberlin
- Kinder, LA9.8 mi · 2,170 people · home $118,700
- Elton, LA9.9 mi · 992 people · home $84,900
- Basile, LA13.4 mi · 1,214 people · home $100,700
- Oakdale, LA16.0 mi · 6,692 people · home $98,700
- Reddell, LA21.1 mi · 904 people · home $65,500
- Mamou, LA21.3 mi · 2,936 people · home $86,500
- Eunice, LA22.7 mi · 9,422 people · home $122,000
- Pine Prairie, LA24.2 mi · 1,490 people · home —
Oberlin questions
Is Oberlin, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oberlin scores better for retirees than 72% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 76%. 19.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Oberlin?
The median owner-occupied home in Oberlin is valued at $96,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $31,738, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $448 a month.
What is the weather like in Oberlin?
July highs average 90.3°F and January lows 39.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Oberlin get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oberlin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 1, 1967. 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)