The Town FilesPonchatoula, Louisiana
City in Tangipahoa Parish · population 7,822 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $200,300
- Household income
- $51,161
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 44.0
Ponchatoula is a city of 7,822 people in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $200,300, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for cycling than 81% of Louisiana towns, more upscale than 71% of Louisiana towns.
How Ponchatoula 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 Ponchatoula is worth $200,300, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $51,161, which is more affordable than 21% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $762 a month. 76.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ponchatoula | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $200,300 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $762 | $887 |
| Median household income | $51,161 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 76.0% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Ponchatoula
| People | Ponchatoula | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.3% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 33.3 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.1% | 84.6% |
Weather in Ponchatoula
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 38.3°F. About 64.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 86 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 31 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ponchatoula since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on February 6, 1953 about 7.6 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 26, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on February 4, 2024.
Severe weather in Tangipahoa Parish since 1996
Tangipahoa Parish has been included in 48 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| 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 Tangipahoa Parish
Tangipahoa Parish had 47,214 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,783 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Ponchatoula itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Ponchatoula
7 public schools with 6,696 students, about 20.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ponchatoula High School | 9-12 | 2,254 | 19.8 |
| Champ Cooper Elementary School | PK-8 | 1,159 | 20.3 |
| Ponchatoula Junior High School | 7-8 | 747 | 18.2 |
| D.C. Reeves Elementary School | 3-4 | 695 | 21.7 |
| Tucker Memorial Elementary School | 1-2 | 689 | 20.3 |
| Martha Vinyard Elementary School | 5-6 | 687 | 22.2 |
| Perrin Early Learning Center | PK-K | 465 | 21.1 |
Towns near Ponchatoula
- Hammond, LA4.6 mi · 19,584 people · home $221,400
- Natalbany, LA7.9 mi · 2,510 people · home $151,200
- Albany, LA9.3 mi · 1,235 people · home $203,800
- Tickfaw, LA9.8 mi · 635 people · home $180,300
- Killian, LA10.2 mi · 1,177 people · home $322,100
- Independence, LA14.0 mi · 1,635 people · home $147,000
- Madisonville, LA16.7 mi · 850 people · home $399,600
- Livingston, LA18.5 mi · 1,877 people · home $192,300
Ponchatoula questions
Is Ponchatoula, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ponchatoula scores better for retirees than 40% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 38%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.0).
How much does a house cost in Ponchatoula?
The median owner-occupied home in Ponchatoula is valued at $200,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,161, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $762 a month.
What is the weather like in Ponchatoula?
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 38.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 64.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Ponchatoula get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ponchatoula since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on February 6, 1953. 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)