Patterson is a small town of 5,868 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $46,189
and a 2.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Patterson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Patterson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Patterson 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: 87.7
Patterson's overall cost of living index is 87.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Patterson costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Patterson, LA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$151,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$738
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
55.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,189
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Patterson's violent crime rate is 270.3 per 100,000 residents
— 29% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
270.3 /100k
Property Crime
540.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Patterson is served primarily by St. Mary Parish.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Patterson, LA
National Avg
School District
St. Mary Parish
—
Elementary Schools
10
—
Middle Schools
5
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
6.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
80.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Patterson sees average highs of 63.0°F in January
and 90.5°F in July,
with 58.5 inches of annual precipitation
.
Patterson's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Patterson roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $151,400 and median rent is $738/month.
Patterson's violent crime rate is 270.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 540.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Patterson are operated by St. Mary Parish.
The district has 10 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 6.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Patterson, LA has a population of 5,868, a median household income of $46,189, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%.
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.
Patterson averages 63.0°F in January and 90.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.5 inches
.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Patterson, LA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 70392.
The population of Patterson, Louisiana is 5,868 with a median age of 31.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Patterson: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $151,400, median household income $46,189, crime index 53 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Patterson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
