The Town FilesPaulina, Louisiana
Community in St. James Parish · population 1,778 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $283,100
- Household income
- $88,839
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 38.9
Paulina is a community of 1,778 people in St. James Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $283,100, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks easier by car than 97% of Louisiana towns, better for families than 95% of Louisiana towns, more upscale than 87% of Louisiana towns.
How Paulina 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 Paulina is worth $283,100, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $88,839, which is more affordable than 44% of Louisiana towns. 98.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Paulina | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $283,100 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | — | $887 |
| Median household income | $88,839 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 98.7% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 2008 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Paulina
| People | Paulina | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.7% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 32.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.3% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.1% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 2.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 84.6% |
Weather in Paulina
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 42.9°F. About 67.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 79 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 13 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paulina since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 25, 1992 about 8.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 107 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 15, 2015.
Severe weather in St. James Parish since 1996
St. James Parish has been included in 44 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3638: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 16, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4817: Hurricane Francine |
| 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. James Parish
St. James Parish had 7,650 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $78,993 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Paulina itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Paulina
1 public school with 723 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paulina Elementary School | PK-3 | 723 | 13.4 |
Towns near Paulina
- Grand Point, LA1.8 mi · 2,241 people · home $253,800
- Lutcher, LA1.9 mi · 3,133 people · home $219,600
- North Vacherie, LA2.1 mi · 2,093 people · home $221,900
- Gramercy, LA2.4 mi · 2,932 people · home $225,100
- Wallace, LA3.9 mi · 755 people · home $184,700
- Garyville, LA5.6 mi · 2,123 people · home $171,600
- South Vacherie, LA7.0 mi · 3,388 people · home $234,600
- St. James, LA7.8 mi · 592 people · home $181,700
Paulina questions
Is Paulina, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Paulina scores better for retirees than 54% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 71%. 13.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Paulina?
The median owner-occupied home in Paulina is valued at $283,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,839, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Paulina?
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 42.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 67.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Paulina get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paulina since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 25, 1992. 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)