What are the schools like in Washington, LA?

Washington is served primarily by St. Landry Parish. The district operates 16 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, and 9 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.9:1.

What is the median household income in Washington?

The median household income in Washington, LA is $36,719 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.0%.

What is the weather like in Washington, LA?

Washington has an average high temperature of 63.5°F in January and 91.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 64.8 inches.

Washington, LA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Washington, LA affordable or expensive?

Washington's cost of living index is 84, where 100 represents the national average. This means Washington is 16% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $117,000 and the median rent is $581 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Washington, LA?

Washington has a violent crime rate of 433.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1704.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Washington, LA a Good Place to Live?

Washington is a small town of 819 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $36,719 . Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is 16% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Washington is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Washington 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: 84.5

Washington's overall cost of living index is 84.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Washington costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.

Metric	Washington, LA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$117,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$581	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	42.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$36,719	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Washington's violent crime rate is 433.5 per 100,000 residents — 14% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

433.5 /100k

Property Crime

1704.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Washington is served primarily by St. Landry Parish. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Washington, LA	National Avg
School District	St. Landry Parish	—
Elementary Schools	16	—
Middle Schools	9	—
High Schools	9	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	10.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	71.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Washington sees average highs of 63.5°F in January and 91.6°F in July, with 64.8 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Washington, LA
Average High — January	63.5°F
Average High — July	91.6°F
Annual Precipitation	64.8"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Washington, LA	National Avg
Population	819	—
Median Age	26.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	51.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	31.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	57.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.2%	22.2%
65 and over	17.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Opelousas, LA 6 mi Port Barre, LA 7 mi Lawtell, LA 10 mi Palmetto, LA 11 mi Leonville, LA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Washington

Washington, LA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

70589

Washington vs Other Cities

Washington, LA vs Opelousas, LA Washington, LA vs Port Barre, LA Washington, LA vs Lawtell, LA Washington, LA vs Palmetto, LA Washington, LA vs Leonville, LA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Washington, LA affordable or expensive?

Washington's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average. That makes Washington roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $117,000 and median rent is $581/month.

What is the crime rate in Washington, LA?

Washington's violent crime rate is 433.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1704.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Washington?

Public schools in Washington are operated by St. Landry Parish. The district has 16 elementary, 9 middle, and 9 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1. 10.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Washington, LA a good place to live?

Washington, LA has a population of 819, a median household income of $36,719, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%. 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.

What is the weather like in Washington?

Washington averages 63.5°F in January and 91.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 64.8 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Washington?

Washington, LA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 70589.

What is the population of Washington?

The population of Washington, Louisiana is 819 with a median age of 26.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Washington?

Key numbers for living in Washington: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $117,000, median household income $36,719, crime index 101 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Washington side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.