The Town FilesWest Monroe, Louisiana
City in Ouachita Parish · population 13,103 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $192,400
- Household income
- $49,386
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 35.4
West Monroe is a city of 13,103 people in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $192,400, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks more vibrant than 90% of Louisiana towns, better transit than 89% of Louisiana towns, hipper than 87% of Louisiana towns.
How West Monroe 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 West Monroe is worth $192,400, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $49,386, which is more affordable than 21% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $826 a month. 44.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Monroe | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $192,400 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $826 | $887 |
| Median household income | $49,386 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 44.7% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in West Monroe
| People | West Monroe | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.3% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 19.8 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.4% | 84.6% |
Weather in West Monroe
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 36.7°F. About 55.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 97 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 33 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Monroe since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 12, 2020 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 12, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 92 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 4, 1989.
Severe weather in Ouachita Parish since 1996
Ouachita Parish has been included in 44 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| 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 Ouachita Parish
Ouachita Parish had 69,384 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,059 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in West Monroe itself the ACS puts it at 9.6%.
Public schools in West Monroe
18 public schools with 9,886 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Monroe High School | 8-12 | 2,160 | 16.6 |
| West Ouachita High School | 8-12 | 1,048 | 14.6 |
| Claiborne School | PK-5 | 749 | 19.2 |
| West Ridge Middle School | 6-8 | 700 | 15.2 |
| Good Hope Middle School | 6-8 | 587 | 16.8 |
| Drew Elementary School | PK-5 | 545 | 15.6 |
| Woodlawn Elementary School | PK-5 | 543 | 17.0 |
| Kiroli Elementary School | PK-5 | 497 | 17.8 |
| Riser Middle School | 6-8 | 476 | 14.0 |
| George Welch Elementary School | K-5 | 459 | 17.7 |
| Riser Elementary School | PK-5 | 318 | 12.7 |
| Lenwil Elementary School | PK-5 | 292 | 14.6 |
Towns near West Monroe
- Brownsville, LA1.8 mi · 4,353 people · home $74,700
- Bawcomville, LA3.3 mi · 3,472 people · home $61,500
- Claiborne, LA3.3 mi · 12,631 people · home $219,200
- Monroe, LA4.3 mi · 47,702 people · home $198,900
- Richwood, LA6.1 mi · 3,881 people · home $53,000
- Swartz, LA10.7 mi · 4,354 people · home $199,800
- Bastrop, LA23.0 mi · 9,691 people · home $87,800
- Rayville, LA23.1 mi · 3,347 people · home $99,100
West Monroe questions
Is West Monroe, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Monroe scores better for retirees than 38% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 11%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in West Monroe?
The median owner-occupied home in West Monroe is valued at $192,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,386, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $826 a month.
What is the weather like in West Monroe?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 36.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does West Monroe get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Monroe since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 12, 2020. 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)