The Town FilesWatson, Louisiana
Community in Livingston Parish · population 956 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $252,000
- Household income
- $96,780
- Jan low / Jul high
- 42° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 38.9
Watson is a community of 956 people in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $252,000, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks more upscale than 92% of Louisiana towns, better for families than 91% of Louisiana towns, better for cycling than 77% of Louisiana towns.
How Watson 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 Watson is worth $252,000, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $96,780, which is more affordable than 71% of Louisiana towns. 94.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watson | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $252,000 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | — | $887 |
| Median household income | $96,780 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 94.3% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Watson
| People | Watson | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.1% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.6% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.2% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 30.2 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 84.6% |
Weather in Watson
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 41.6°F. About 61.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 96 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 18 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watson since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 7, 2017 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 28, 2011.
Severe weather in Livingston Parish since 1996
Livingston Parish has been included in 52 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 Livingston Parish
Livingston Parish had 31,123 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,193 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Watson itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Watson
4 public schools with 3,389 students, about 17.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak High School | 9-12 | 1,391 | 17.2 |
| Live Oak Junior High | 7-8 | 727 | 16.5 |
| Live Oak Middle School | 5-6 | 697 | 19.4 |
| South Live Oak Elementary School | PK-4 | 574 | 15.9 |
Towns near Watson
- Central, LA5.2 mi · 29,565 people · home $288,700
- Denham Springs, LA7.0 mi · 9,286 people · home $188,200
- Walker, LA7.9 mi · 6,374 people · home $227,800
- Monticello, LA8.2 mi · 5,431 people · home $176,000
- Brownfields, LA10.5 mi · 5,145 people · home $207,200
- Merrydale, LA10.7 mi · 9,227 people · home $136,100
- Baker, LA12.3 mi · 12,455 people · home $157,900
- Livingston, LA13.3 mi · 1,877 people · home $192,300
Watson questions
Is Watson, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watson scores better for retirees than 20% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 29%. 12.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Watson?
The median owner-occupied home in Watson is valued at $252,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,780, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Watson?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 41.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Watson get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 7, 2017. 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)