The Town FilesStart, Louisiana
Community in Richland Parish · population 982 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,100
- Household income
- $110,278
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 50.1
Start is a community of 982 people in Richland Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $162,100, close to the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Louisiana towns, quieter than 96% of Louisiana towns, better for young professionals than 89% of Louisiana towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Louisiana
- #2 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Louisiana
- #3 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #3 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #7 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Louisiana
- #10 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
How Start 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 Start is worth $162,100, close to the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $110,278, which is more affordable than 98% of Louisiana towns. 81.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Start | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,100 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | — | $887 |
| Median household income | $110,278 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 81.8% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Start
| People | Start | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.1 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.8% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.1% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.7% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.8% | 84.6% |
Weather in Start
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 38.0°F. About 60.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 84 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 35 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Start since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 18, 1973 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 62 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on March 13, 2005.
Severe weather in Richland Parish since 1996
Richland Parish has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Richland Parish
Richland Parish had 6,232 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,083 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Start itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Start
1 public school with 335 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start Elementary School | PK-8 | 335 | 17.6 |
Towns near Start
- Rayville, LA6.6 mi · 3,347 people · home $99,100
- Swartz, LA9.3 mi · 4,354 people · home $199,800
- Lakeshore, LA10.1 mi · 1,988 people · home $166,800
- Monroe, LA12.3 mi · 47,702 people · home $198,900
- Richwood, LA12.6 mi · 3,881 people · home $53,000
- Mangham, LA13.6 mi · 624 people · home $113,100
- West Monroe, LA16.6 mi · 13,103 people · home $192,400
- Brownsville, LA17.1 mi · 4,353 people · home $74,700
Start questions
Is Start, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Start scores better for retirees than 100% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 96%. 8.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.1).
How much does a house cost in Start?
The median owner-occupied home in Start is valued at $162,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $110,278, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Start?
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 38.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Start get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Start since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 18, 1973. 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)