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Living in
Natchitoches.
About
Life in Natchitoches
Living in Natchitoches means embracing a place where history isn't just something you visit—it shapes how the community actually functions. Northwestern State University anchors the local economy alongside forestry, the Port of Natchitoches, and a revitalized downtown that pulled itself from a 65% commercial vacancy rate in the 1970s to nearly full occupancy today. The weather here is a real trade-off: summers are intensely hot and humid, winters are mild but the area sits in a zone that regularly sees severe thunderstorms, hail, damaging winds, and occasional tornadoes, with about 55 inches of rain annually.
Natchitoches at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
26.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
35.9%
Foreign-Born
1.9%
Broadband Internet
83.1%
of households
Population Growth
-5.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Natchitoches: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Natchitoches, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (15.2%), and 2.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.9%
of residents
65 and Older
13.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
39.1%
of households
Married Couples
25.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.27
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 25% below LA average
Rent, home values, and income in Natchitoches
In Natchitoches, rent runs 25% below the LA average, and home values are 11% below the LA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.3%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$772
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
41.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
19.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $193,371 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.5 pts above LA average
Unemployment in Natchitoches
Unemployment in Natchitoches Parish, which includes Natchitoches, is 1.5 percentage points higher than the LA average.
Unemployment rate
Natchitoches: Natchitoches Parish rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Natchitoches Parish (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Natchitoches Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.2 min avg
How Natchitoches residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Natchitoches, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 87% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 44 mi
Alexandria International Airport (AEX)
Regional airport · few flights272k 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 162% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Natchitoches runs 162% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
861.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,143.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Natchitoches Police Department
Natural DisastersHeat most common — 23 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
56.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Natchitoches County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Natchitoches Parish, which includes Natchitoches, the most common type is heat, with 23 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 25 | Heat | None reported |
| 2023 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100,000 |
| 2022 | 28 | Heat | $17,000 |
| 2021 | 14 | Heat | None reported |
| 2020 | 21 | Heat | None reported |
| 2019 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 16 | Heat | $331,500 |
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.
25 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Natchitoches Parish, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Rapides Parish, LA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 50 miles from Natchitoches) is typically good — 87 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
37
Good Days
87
per year
Moderate Days
31
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Rapides Parish, LA (50 mi away)
Climate94°F summers, 41°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Natchitoches has hot summers (avg high 94°F) and mild winters (avg low 41°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
79°/57°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
94°/75°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
81°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
62°/41°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
55.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
98
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
29
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
99
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 39°F | 5.08" |
| Feb | 65°F | 42°F | 4.48" |
| Mar | 72°F | 49°F | 5.76" |
| Apr | 79°F | 56°F | 5.66" |
| May | 87°F | 65°F | 4.16" |
| Jun | 92°F | 73°F | 5.22" |
| Jul | 95°F | 76°F | 3.51" |
| Aug | 96°F | 75°F | 3.27" |
| Sep | 90°F | 69°F | 3.90" |
| Oct | 81°F | 57°F | 4.52" |
| Nov | 70°F | 47°F | 4.76" |
| Dec | 62°F | 41°F | 5.61" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Natchitoches
Natchitoches has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Natchitoches Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education12.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Natchitoches
Natchitoches's student/teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 30.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Natchitoches
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Public · 4-year · 5,519 students · in-state tuition $9,370 · 45% graduate · median earnings $51,238 (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: Cane River Creole National Historical Park, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Natchitoches
Natchitoches has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Cane River Creole National Historical Park (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cane River Creole National Historical Park
National Historical Park
8 mi awayPublic Libraries in Natchitoches
Natchitoches Parish Library
450 Second Street, Natchitoches
Cities Near Natchitoches
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Natchitoches?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Natchitoches FAQ
Is Natchitoches, Louisiana affordable?⌄
Natchitoches's median rent is $802/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $37,133/year. Median home value is $193,200.
Is Natchitoches, Louisiana safe?⌄
Natchitoches's violent crime rate was 862 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 4143 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Natchitoches, Louisiana?⌄
Natchitoches Parish, which includes Natchitoches, has an unemployment rate of 5.8%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Natchitoches, Louisiana?⌄
The cost of living in Natchitoches is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $802/month and median household income is $37,133/year. The median home value is $193,200. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Natchitoches, Louisiana?⌄
The average commute in Natchitoches is 16 minutes, which is shorter than 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