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Living in
Hammond.
About
Life in Hammond
Life in Hammond centers around Southeastern Louisiana University and a close-knit community that feels genuinely affordable compared to surrounding areas—median rent sits at just $1,061 a month and homes average around $219,400, making it realistic for people on modest incomes to actually build equity here. Your commute to Baton Rouge or even New Orleans is manageable at around 20 minutes on average, which opens up job possibilities beyond the city limits, though you'll be driving everywhere—Hammond is fundamentally car-dependent. The climate demands respect: summers are genuinely hot and humid with subtropical weather that feels oppressive July through September, and winters are mild enough that you're not dealing with snow, but you're trading that for humidity year-round and occasional heavy rain.
Hammond at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
27.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
28.9%
Foreign-Born
2.1%
Broadband Internet
89.3%
of households
Population Growth
+23.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Hammond: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hammond, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (24.1%), and 2.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.0%
of residents
65 and Older
12.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.7%
of households
Married Couples
27.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.35
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for LA
Rent, home values, and income in Hammond
Rent and home values here are close to the LA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
60.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
84.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,209
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
46.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
19.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $221,162 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts above LA average
Unemployment in Hammond
Unemployment in Tangipahoa Parish, which includes Hammond, is 0.7 percentage points higher than the LA average.
Unemployment rate
Hammond: Tangipahoa Parish rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Tangipahoa Parish (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Hammond Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21 min avg
How Hammond residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hammond, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 37 mi
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Medium hub6.2M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 73% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hammond runs 73% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
568.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
5,306.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hammond Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Tangipahoa County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Tangipahoa Parish, which includes Hammond, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $681,500 |
| 2024 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,000 |
| 2023 | 37 | Excessive Heat | $159,000 |
| 2022 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $255,000 |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100.0M |
| 2020 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $538,000 |
| 2019 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 6 | Tornado | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Tangipahoa Parish, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Tangipahoa Parish, which includes Hammond, is typically good.
Median AQI
41
Tangipahoa Parish, county-wide
Climate91°F summers, 40°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hammond has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 40°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/56°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
63°/40°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
62.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
86
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
31
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
91
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 38°F | 5.75" |
| Feb | 65°F | 42°F | 4.59" |
| Mar | 72°F | 49°F | 5.25" |
| Apr | 78°F | 55°F | 5.56" |
| May | 85°F | 63°F | 5.41" |
| Jun | 90°F | 69°F | 6.65" |
| Jul | 92°F | 72°F | 6.79" |
| Aug | 92°F | 71°F | 5.61" |
| Sep | 88°F | 67°F | 4.38" |
| Oct | 81°F | 56°F | 4.10" |
| Nov | 70°F | 46°F | 4.20" |
| Dec | 64°F | 41°F | 5.88" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hammond
Hammond has 3 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
6.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
North Oaks Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Cypress Pointe Surgical Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals
Universal Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Lallie Kemp Medical Center
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 8.3 mi away · Independence
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hammond
Hammond's student/teacher ratio is 17.5:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 27.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Hammond
Southeastern Louisiana University
Public · 4-year · 9,514 students · in-state tuition $9,043 · 44% graduate · median earnings $49,502 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, 44 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hammond
Hammond has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park (44 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
National Historical Park
44 mi awayJean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
National Historical Park and Preserve
51 mi awayNatchez National Historical Park
National Historical Park
91 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hammond
Hammond Branch
314 East Thomas Street, Hammond
Cities Near Hammond
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hammond?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hammond FAQ
Is Hammond, Louisiana affordable?⌄
Hammond's median rent is $1,061/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $48,166/year. Median home value is $221,400.
Is Hammond, Louisiana safe?⌄
Hammond's violent crime rate was 568 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 5307 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hammond, Louisiana?⌄
Tangipahoa Parish, which includes Hammond, has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hammond, Louisiana?⌄
The cost of living in Hammond is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,061/month and median household income is $48,166/year. The median home value is $221,400. About 61% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hammond, Louisiana?⌄
The average commute in Hammond is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from