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Living in
Zachary.
About
Life in Zachary
Living in Zachary means settling into a genuinely affordable corner of Louisiana that's experienced real growth without losing its community feel—the population jumped from 11,275 in 2000 to nearly 20,000 today, but it still feels manageable rather than sprawling. Your money goes further here than in Baton Rouge proper: median household income sits around $84,480, median home values hover near $258,000, and the cost of living reflects a place that's attracting young families and professionals without the price tag of bigger urban centers. The job market is solid with unemployment under 4.3%, and you're close enough to Baton Rouge (16 miles south) that commuting for work is realistic—most residents are looking at a 27-minute drive, which is reasonable for the trade-off of living somewhere quieter and more affordable.
Zachary at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.5%
Foreign-Born
2.9%
Broadband Internet
93.9%
of households
Population Growth
+6.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.9% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Zachary: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Zachary, the largest foreign-born group is from India (31.5%), and 1.0% of residents speak Tagalog/Filipino at home.
Under 18
23.0%
of residents
65 and Older
13.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.7%
of households
Married Couples
49.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.59
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 44% above LA average
Rent, home values, and income in Zachary
In Zachary, rent runs 44% above the LA average, and home values are 20% above the LA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
38.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,943
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
79.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2003
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $266,070 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for LA
Unemployment in Zachary
Unemployment in East Baton Rouge Parish, which includes Zachary, is close to the LA average.
Unemployment rate
Zachary: East Baton Rouge Parish rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
East Baton Rouge Parish (county-wide) · Annual averages
Zachary is about 4% of East Baton Rouge Parish’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Zachary Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.7 min avg
How Zachary residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Zachary, most residents drive alone to work (85%), and 48% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR)
Regional airport · few flights421k passengers boarded in 2025
- 70 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 12% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Zachary runs 12% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
291.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,966.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Zachary Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
East Baton Rouge County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In East Baton Rouge Parish, which includes Zachary, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Hail | $1.9M |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.5M |
| 2023 | 42 | Excessive Heat | $190,000 |
| 2022 | 13 | Flash Flood | $345,000 |
| 2021 | 13 | Flash Flood | $250.3M |
| 2020 | 9 | Hail | $10.2M |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $945,000 |
| 2018 | 13 | Flash Flood | $120,000 |
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
East Baton Rouge Parish, county-wide
Zachary is about 4% of East Baton Rouge Parish’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality51 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in East Baton Rouge Parish, which includes Zachary, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
51
Good Days
181
per year
Moderate Days
183
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
East Baton Rouge Parish, county-wide
Zachary is about 4% of East Baton Rouge Parish’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate92°F summers, 43°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Zachary has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and mild winters (avg low 43°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
79°/58°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/73°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
63.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
96
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
18
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
90
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 42°F | 6.36" |
| Feb | 67°F | 45°F | 4.42" |
| Mar | 73°F | 51°F | 4.46" |
| Apr | 79°F | 57°F | 5.08" |
| May | 86°F | 65°F | 5.23" |
| Jun | 91°F | 72°F | 6.45" |
| Jul | 92°F | 74°F | 5.09" |
| Aug | 92°F | 73°F | 6.37" |
| Sep | 89°F | 69°F | 4.42" |
| Oct | 81°F | 58°F | 4.84" |
| Nov | 71°F | 48°F | 3.90" |
| Dec | 64°F | 43°F | 5.32" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Zachary
Zachary has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Lane Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Eastern La Mental Health System
Psychiatric · 11.5 mi away · Jackson
West Feliciana Parish Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 14.5 mi away · Saint Francisville
The General
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.8 mi away · Baton Rouge
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.
Education15.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Zachary
Zachary's student/teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 32.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Zachary (within 15 miles)
Southern University and A & M College
9.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 5,519 students · in-state tuition $9,958 · 36% graduate · median earnings $47,186 (10 yrs after entry)
Southern University Law Center
9.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 607 students · median earnings $47,186 (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: Natchez National Historical Park, 62 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Zachary
Zachary has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Natchez National Historical Park (62 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Natchez National Historical Park
National Historical Park
62 mi awayNew Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
National Historical Park
81 mi awayJean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
National Historical Park and Preserve
85 mi awayPublic Libraries in Zachary
Zachary Branch
1900 Church Street, Zachary
Cities Near Zachary
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Zachary?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Zachary FAQ
Is Zachary, Louisiana affordable?⌄
Zachary's median rent is $1,527/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $84,480/year. Median home value is $259,100.
Is Zachary, Louisiana safe?⌄
Zachary's violent crime rate was 291 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1966 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Zachary, Louisiana?⌄
East Baton Rouge Parish, which includes Zachary, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Zachary, Louisiana?⌄
The cost of living in Zachary is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,527/month and median household income is $84,480/year. The median home value is $259,100. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Zachary, Louisiana?⌄
The average commute in Zachary is 28 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