What it's like to live in Hammond
Hammond is a small city in Louisiana with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Hammond deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, hospital ratings below the national average, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
How Hammond compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Hammond
Based on Hammond's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,122
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $42,440 a year
- 61% of Hammond renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$44,280
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $22,140
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 25% below US
$1,061/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,061 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $221,400. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $221,400 · 61% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.0% county unemployment
Unemployment in Tangipahoa Parish is 5.0%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Tangipahoa Parish (county-wide)
Safety▲ 73% above US
568 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 5307/100k · Hammond Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 19% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 40°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
3 hospitals
There are 3 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 23% below US
28% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 28%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park (44 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Hammond's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,061/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Hammond
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