The Town FilesSouth Vacherie, Louisiana
Community in St. James Parish · population 3,388 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $234,600
- Household income
- $81,310
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 49.3
South Vacherie is a community of 3,388 people in St. James Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $234,600, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Louisiana towns, more of a college town than 95% of Louisiana towns, easier by car than 95% of Louisiana towns.
How South Vacherie 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 South Vacherie is worth $234,600, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $81,310, which is more affordable than 55% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $1,325 a month. 93.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Vacherie | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $234,600 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $1,325 | $887 |
| Median household income | $81,310 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 93.0% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in South Vacherie
| People | South Vacherie | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.3 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.8% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.8% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 31.6 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.0% | 84.6% |
Weather in South Vacherie
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
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Vacherie since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on February 3, 1960 about 8.5 miles from the town center. 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 3.50 inches on June 20, 2023.
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 South Vacherie itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in South Vacherie
2 public schools with 1,003 students, about 10.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. James High School | 7-12 | 616 | 11.4 |
| Vacherie Elementary School | PK-3 | 387 | 9.9 |
Towns near South Vacherie
- North Vacherie, LA4.9 mi · 2,093 people · home $221,900
- Wallace, LA6.1 mi · 755 people · home $184,700
- Kraemer, LA6.7 mi · 877 people · home $145,400
- Choctaw, LA6.9 mi · 775 people · home —
- Paulina, LA7.0 mi · 1,778 people · home $283,100
- Grand Point, LA8.3 mi · 2,241 people · home $253,800
- Gramercy, LA8.4 mi · 2,932 people · home $225,100
- Lutcher, LA8.6 mi · 3,133 people · home $219,600
South Vacherie questions
Is South Vacherie, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Vacherie scores better for retirees than 83% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 82%. 25.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.3).
How much does a house cost in South Vacherie?
The median owner-occupied home in South Vacherie is valued at $234,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,310, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,325 a month.
What is the weather like in South Vacherie?
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 South Vacherie get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Vacherie since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on February 3, 1960. 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)