Median Income
$47,010
household / year
Median Home Value
$228,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$994
gross / month
Cost of Living
91
national avg = 100

Is Gretna, LA a Good Place to Live?

Gretna is a small city of 17,640 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $47,010 and a 6.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Gretna stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Gretna is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Gretna 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: 91.1

Gretna's overall cost of living index is 91.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Gretna costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric Gretna, LA National Avg
Median Home Value $228,700 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $994 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 49.6% 65.9%
Median Household Income $47,010 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Gretna's violent crime rate is 428.9 per 100,000 residents — 13% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
428.9 /100k
Property Crime
3800.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Gretna is served primarily by Jefferson Parish. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Gretna, LA National Avg
School District Jefferson Parish —
Elementary Schools 50 —
Middle Schools 7 —
High Schools 16 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 14.4:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 24.8% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 75.4% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Gretna sees average highs of 62.9°F in January and 91.9°F in July, with 63.9 inches of annual precipitation .

MetricGretna, LA
Average High — January62.9°F
Average High — July91.9°F
Annual Precipitation63.9"
Annual SnowfallTrace / None

Demographics

MetricGretna, LANational Avg
Population17,640—
Median Age39.038.9
Unemployment Rate6.9%3.7%
Avg Commute Time24.2 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)46.4%59.3%
Black or African American29.8%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino18.1%18.9%
Asian3.3%6.3%
Under 1820.7%22.2%
65 and over15.5%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Gretna

Gretna, LA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Gretna vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Gretna's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Gretna roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $228,700 and median rent is $994/month.
Gretna's violent crime rate is 428.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3800.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Gretna are operated by Jefferson Parish. The district has 50 elementary, 7 middle, and 16 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 24.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Gretna, LA has a population of 17,640, a median household income of $47,010, and an unemployment rate of 6.9%. 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.
Gretna averages 62.9°F in January and 91.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 63.9 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Gretna, LA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 70053.
The population of Gretna, Louisiana is 17,640 with a median age of 39.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Gretna: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $228,700, median household income $47,010, crime index 140 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gretna side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.