Saint Joseph, LA entrance sign (2013) IMG 7488 1 · Billy Hathorn / Public domainTensas Parish Library and Museum IMG 0273 · Billy Hathorn / CC BY-SA 3.0Downtown St. Joseph, LA IMG 1244 · Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0St. Joseph, LA, Town Hall IMG 0269 · Billy Hathorn / CC BY-SA 3.0
St. Joseph is a small town of 776 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $34,643
and a 8.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is
16% below the national average.
Strengths:
St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All St. Joseph 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: 84.2
St. Joseph's overall cost of living index is 84.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in St. Joseph costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.
Metric
St. Joseph, LA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$63,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$808
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
60.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$34,643
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
St. Joseph's violent crime rate is 438.4 per 100,000 residents
— 15% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
438.4 /100k
Property Crime
530.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
St. Joseph is served primarily by Tensas Parish.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
St. Joseph, LA
National Avg
School District
Tensas Parish
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
83.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
St. Joseph sees average highs of 58.6°F in January
and 93.0°F in July,
with 58.2 inches of annual precipitation
.
St. Joseph's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average.
That makes St. Joseph roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $63,800 and median rent is $808/month.
St. Joseph's violent crime rate is 438.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 530.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in St. Joseph are operated by Tensas Parish.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.4:1. 15.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
St. Joseph, LA has a population of 776, a median household income of $34,643, and an unemployment rate of 8.2%.
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.
St. Joseph averages 58.6°F in January and 93.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.2 inches
.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
St. Joseph, LA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 71366.
The population of St. Joseph, Louisiana is 776 with a median age of 49.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in St. Joseph: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $63,800, median household income $34,643, crime index 79 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare St. Joseph side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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