The Town FilesPort Barre, Louisiana
Town in St. Landry Parish · population 1,751 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $75,700
- Household income
- $41,278
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 28.0
Port Barre is a town of 1,751 people in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $75,700, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450).
How Port Barre 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 Port Barre is worth $75,700, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $41,278, which is more affordable than 94% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $881 a month. 61.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Port Barre | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $75,700 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $881 | $887 |
| Median household income | $41,278 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 61.8% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.2% | — |
Who lives in Port Barre
| People | Port Barre | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.0 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.6% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 34.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.2% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.9% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 59.2% | 84.6% |
Weather in Port Barre
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 41.4°F. About 61.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 93 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 18 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Port Barre since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 10, 2021 about 7.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 31 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 18, 1988.
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 Port Barre itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Port Barre
3 public schools with 1,140 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Barre Elementary School | PK-4 | 441 | 14.2 |
| Port Barre High School | 9-12 | 396 | 12.0 |
| Port Barre Middle School | 5-8 | 303 | 13.8 |
Towns near Port Barre
- Leonville, LA6.7 mi · 868 people · home $182,800
- Washington, LA7.4 mi · 742 people · home $85,300
- Opelousas, LA7.8 mi · 15,786 people · home $105,100
- Grand Coteau, LA10.7 mi · 776 people · home $117,500
- Arnaudville, LA10.7 mi · 1,009 people · home $83,400
- Krotz Springs, LA12.1 mi · 904 people · home $63,300
- Sunset, LA12.1 mi · 2,909 people · home $206,100
- Lawtell, LA13.8 mi · 1,066 people · home —
Port Barre questions
Is Port Barre, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Port Barre scores better for retirees than 35% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 30%. 8.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.0).
How much does a house cost in Port Barre?
The median owner-occupied home in Port Barre is valued at $75,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,278, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $881 a month.
What is the weather like in Port Barre?
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 41.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Port Barre get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Port Barre 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)