The Town FilesSt. Joseph, Louisiana
Town in Tensas Parish · population 831 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $59,100
- Household income
- $38,393
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 50.7
St. Joseph is a town of 831 people in Tensas Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $59,100, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for retirees than 89% of Louisiana towns, better for cycling than 89% of Louisiana towns, better for first-time buyers than 88% of Louisiana towns.
How St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph is worth $59,100, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $38,393, which is more affordable than 98% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $733 a month. 75.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | St. Joseph | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $59,100 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $733 | $887 |
| Median household income | $38,393 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 75.0% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in St. Joseph
| People | St. Joseph | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.7 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.5% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.1% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 39.2% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.4% | 84.6% |
Weather in St. Joseph
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 35.5°F. About 58.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 108 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 33 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. Joseph since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 24, 2005 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 4, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 19, 1991.
Severe weather in Tensas Parish since 1996
Tensas Parish has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 18, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4900: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 Tensas Parish
Tensas Parish had 815 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,513 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in St. Joseph itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in St. Joseph
2 public schools with 341 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tensas Elementary School | PK-5 | 184 | 16.7 |
| Tensas High School | 6-12 | 157 | 10.5 |
Towns near St. Joseph
- Alcorn State University, MS6.5 mi · 1,120 people · home —
- Newellton, LA10.5 mi · 886 people · home $52,800
- Waterproof, LA11.6 mi · 541 people · home $47,300
- Port Gibson, MS15.2 mi · 1,269 people · home $113,500
- Fayette, MS17.8 mi · 1,445 people · home $95,000
- Clayton, LA22.1 mi · 584 people · home $73,800
- Hermanville, MS23.6 mi · 692 people · home $18,800
- Wisner, LA24.7 mi · 771 people · home $103,300
St. Joseph questions
Is St. Joseph, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, St. Joseph scores better for retirees than 89% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 54%. 25.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.7).
How much does a house cost in St. Joseph?
The median owner-occupied home in St. Joseph is valued at $59,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,393, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $733 a month.
What is the weather like in St. Joseph?
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 35.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does St. Joseph get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of St. Joseph since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 24, 2005. 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)