Median Income
$39,888
household / year
Median Home Value
$129,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$773
gross / month
Cost of Living
87
national avg = 100

Is Jennings, LA a Good Place to Live?

Jennings is a small town of 9,819 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $39,888 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Jennings is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Jennings 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: 87.3

Jennings's overall cost of living index is 87.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Jennings costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric Jennings, LA National Avg
Median Home Value $129,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $773 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 66.6% 65.9%
Median Household Income $39,888 $74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Jennings's violent crime rate is 1007.6 per 100,000 residents — 165% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
1007.6 /100k
Property Crime
3347.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Jennings is served primarily by Jefferson Davis Parish. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Jennings, LA National Avg
School District Jefferson Davis Parish
Elementary Schools 5
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 4
Student/Teacher Ratio 14.6:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.5% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 79.1% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Jennings sees average highs of 60.1°F in January and 90.2°F in July, with 63.5 inches of annual precipitation and 0.1 inches of snow per year.

MetricJennings, LA
Average High — January60.1°F
Average High — July90.2°F
Annual Precipitation63.5"
Annual Snowfall0.1"

Demographics

MetricJennings, LANational Avg
Population9,819
Median Age37.138.9
Unemployment Rate5.1%3.7%
Avg Commute Time32.0 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)65.8%59.3%
Black or African American25.2%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino4.1%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1827.1%22.2%
65 and over22.4%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Jennings

Jennings, LA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Jennings vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Jennings's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Jennings roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $129,500 and median rent is $773/month.
Jennings's violent crime rate is 1007.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3347.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Jennings are operated by Jefferson Davis Parish. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1. 15.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Jennings, LA has a population of 9,819, a median household income of $39,888, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. 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.
Jennings averages 60.1°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 63.5 inches with about 0.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Jennings, LA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 70546.
The population of Jennings, Louisiana is 9,819 with a median age of 37.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Jennings: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $129,500, median household income $39,888, crime index 223 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Jennings side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.