Median Income
$42,049
household / year
Median Home Value
$203,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$899
gross / month
Cost of Living
91
national avg = 100

Is Hammond, LA a Good Place to Live?

Hammond is a small city of 20,239 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $42,049 and a 5.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Hammond is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Hammond 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: 90.8

Hammond's overall cost of living index is 90.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hammond costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric Hammond, LA National Avg
Median Home Value $203,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $899 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 49.0% 65.9%
Median Household Income $42,049 $74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Hammond's violent crime rate is 1228.0 per 100,000 residents — 223% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
1228.0 /100k
Property Crime
6586.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Hammond is served primarily by Tangipahoa Parish. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Hammond, LA National Avg
School District Tangipahoa Parish —
Elementary Schools 17 —
Middle Schools 7 —
High Schools 8 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.1:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 31.7% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 86.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hammond sees average highs of 61.5°F in January and 91.5°F in July, with 62.2 inches of annual precipitation .

MetricHammond, LA
Average High — January61.5°F
Average High — July91.5°F
Annual Precipitation62.2"
Annual SnowfallTrace / None

Demographics

MetricHammond, LANational Avg
Population20,239—
Median Age26.838.9
Unemployment Rate5.0%3.7%
Avg Commute Time22.4 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)50.2%59.3%
Black or African American44.5%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino2.4%18.9%
Asian2.4%6.3%
Under 1821.8%22.2%
65 and over12.1%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Hammond

Hammond, LA is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

Hammond vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Hammond's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hammond roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $203,500 and median rent is $899/month.
Hammond's violent crime rate is 1228.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 6586.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hammond are operated by Tangipahoa Parish. The district has 17 elementary, 7 middle, and 8 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 31.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hammond, LA has a population of 20,239, a median household income of $42,049, and an unemployment rate of 5.0%. 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.
Hammond averages 61.5°F in January and 91.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 62.2 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Hammond, LA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 70401, 70403, 70402.
The population of Hammond, Louisiana is 20,239 with a median age of 26.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hammond: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $203,500, median household income $42,049, crime index 319 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hammond side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.