Dodson is a small town of 312 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $38,125
and a 8.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Dodson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Dodson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Dodson city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 84.8
Dodson's overall cost of living index is 84.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Dodson costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Dodson, LA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$92,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$690
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
44.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$38,125
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Dodson's violent crime rate is 525.0 per 100,000 residents
— 38% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
525.0 /100k
Property Crime
1560.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Dodson is served primarily by Winn Parish.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Dodson, LA
National Avg
School District
Winn Parish
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
82.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Dodson sees average highs of 57.4°F in January
and 92.5°F in July,
with 57.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Dodson's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Dodson roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $92,500 and median rent is $690/month.
Dodson's violent crime rate is 525.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1560.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Dodson are operated by Winn Parish.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 14.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Dodson, LA has a population of 312, a median household income of $38,125, and an unemployment rate of 8.5%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Dodson averages 57.4°F in January and 92.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.7 inches
with about 0.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dodson, LA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 71422.
The population of Dodson, Louisiana is 312 with a median age of 22.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dodson: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $92,500, median household income $38,125, crime index 113 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dodson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.