Is Terrytown Safe, Pros and cons of living in Terrytown

The following article is about Terrytown, Louisiana.

Is it Safe to Live in Terrytown?

Terrytown, Louisiana, presents a complex picture regarding safety, with crime rates that are notably higher than the national average. The overall crime rate is reported at 56.48 per 1,000 residents in a typical year (as reported by CrimeGrade.org). This places Terrytown in the 7th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than only 7% of U.S. cities, and less safe than 93% (as reported by CrimeGrade.org).

When considering violent crime specifically, the rate is 4.972 per 1,000 residents annually (as reported by CrimeGrade.org). This also positions Terrytown as less safe than the average U.S. city, ranking in the 20th percentile for safety, indicating it is safer than only 20% of cities (as reported by CrimeGrade.org). However, residents often consider the southern part of Terrytown to be the safest, with a significantly lower chance of being a victim of crime in those areas compared to the northwest neighborhoods (as reported by CrimeGrade.org).

Housing and Cost of Living

The cost of living in Terrytown is generally considered to be around the national average. The cost of living index for Terrytown, LA is 100, matching the U.S. average (as reported by City Affordability). This means that, on average, expenses for goods and services are comparable to the national median.

Housing costs in Terrytown are relatively affordable compared to national averages. The median home value is approximately $227,588 (as reported by Livability.com), and the median gross rent is $1,135 per month (as reported by Point2Homes). These figures suggest that housing expenses in Terrytown are more accessible than in many other parts of the country.

Rental Market Insights

The rental market in Terrytown shows a median rent of $1,028 per month as of April 2026 (as reported by Apartments.com). This is 37% lower than the national average rent, making it a more affordable option for renters (as reported by Apartments.com). The rental market also indicates a tight supply, with a low vacancy rate of 1.6% (as reported by NeighborhoodScout).

For those looking to rent, the average rent for a studio is about $1,005 per month, a one-bedroom is around $1,028, and a two-bedroom averages $1,215 (as reported by Apartments.com). To comfortably afford the average rent, an annual income of approximately $41,112 is recommended, aligning with the general guideline of spending no more than 30% of one’s income on housing (as reported by Apartments.com).

Economic Landscape and Employment

The economic landscape of Terrytown reveals a median household income of $51,718 (as reported by Data Commons). The average annual salary in Terrytown is $44,654, which breaks down to about $21.47 per hour (as reported by ZipRecruiter). Most salaries in Terrytown fall between $31,974 and $53,361 annually, representing the 25th to 75th percentile (as reported by ZipRecruiter).

The unemployment rate in Terrytown stands at 8.4%, which is higher than the typically considered healthy rate of 4% to 5% (as reported by Point2Homes). The employment rate is currently 91.55% (as reported by BestNeighborhood.org). A significant portion of the working population, 65.8%, is employed in professional or administrative positions, while 34.2% are in hands-on or service-based jobs (as reported by Point2Homes).

Major Employers and Industries

Information on specific major employers within Terrytown itself is limited in the provided data. However, Terrytown is part of the New Orleans metropolitan area, which has a diverse economy. Key industries in the broader South Louisiana region include healthcare, oil and gas, manufacturing, and telecommunications (as reported by South Louisiana Economic Development). Major companies operating in the New Orleans metropolitan area include Globalstar, AT&T, and GE Capital (as reported by Wikipedia).

Within Jefferson Parish, where Terrytown is located, government services and employment opportunities are significant. The parish government offers various services and employment options (as reported by Jefferson Parish, LA Official Website). The healthcare sector is a major employer in the broader South Louisiana region, with entities like Ochsner Lafayette General employing a substantial number of individuals (as reported by South Louisiana Economic Development).

Climate and Weather Patterns

Terrytown experiences a climate characterized by long, hot, and oppressive summers, short, cool, and windy winters, with generally wet and partly cloudy conditions year-round (as reported by Weather Spark). The temperature typically fluctuates between 47°F and 91°F throughout the year, with rare dips below 34°F or highs above 96°F (as reported by Weather Spark).

The hot season spans approximately 4.1 months, from mid-May to late September, with daily high temperatures often exceeding 85°F (as reported by Weather Spark). July is the hottest month, with average highs around 91°F and lows of 77°F (as reported by Weather Spark). Conversely, the cool season lasts about 2.9 months, from late November to late February, with average daily highs below 68°F. January is the coldest month, with average low temperatures around 47°F and highs of 63°F (as reported by Weather Spark).

Precipitation and Seasonal Conditions

Wet days, defined as days with at least 0.04 inches of precipitation, occur with significant variation throughout the year in Terrytown. The wetter season extends for about 3.3 months, from early June to mid-September, during which there is a greater than 40% chance of a wet day (as reported by Weather Spark). July typically sees the most wet days, with an average of 17.8 days receiving precipitation (as reported by Weather Spark).

The drier season in Terrytown lasts for about 8.7 months, from mid-September to early June. October experiences the fewest wet days, with an average of only 7.0 days (as reported by Weather Spark). Long-range forecasts suggest that precipitation might be below normal in some areas during certain seasons, while above normal in others, with potential for tropical storms during the summer months (as reported by The Old Farmer’s Almanac).

Education and School Ratings

The public schools serving Terrytown present a mixed performance profile. Terrytown Elementary School, which serves students from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade, ranks within the bottom 50% of all schools in Louisiana (as reported by Niche). Math proficiency at this school is 16%, and reading proficiency is 18%, both below the Louisiana state averages (as reported by Niche).

The student-teacher ratio at Terrytown Elementary is 14:1, which is consistent with the Louisiana state average (as reported by Niche). Other schools in the Terrytown area, such as Geraldine Boudreaux Elementary School, are noted as performing better, while Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish is identified as an underperforming school (as reported by SchoolDigger.com). Overall, while some schools in the broader Jefferson Parish area may excel, many in Terrytown generally lag behind state averages in academic proficiency (as reported by SchoolDigger.com).

Demographics and Community Profile

Terrytown is a census-designated place with a population of approximately 24,726 residents (as reported by Point2Homes). The median age in Terrytown is 35, with a demographic distribution showing 25.8% are children under 15, and 11.6% are 65 or older (as reported by Point2Homes). The population is fairly balanced, with 51.3% male and 48.7% female (as reported by Point2Homes).

The racial makeup of Terrytown is diverse, with 37.4% identifying as African American, 27.4% as Caucasian, and 11.9% reporting two or more races (as reported by Point2Homes). A significant portion of the population, 19.1%, are non-citizens (as reported by Point2Homes). The community has a dense suburban feel, and most residents rent their homes (as reported by Niche).

Income and Household Composition

The median household income in Terrytown was reported as $66,657 in 2024, though this marked a decrease of 6.9% from the previous year (as reported by U.S. Census Bureau via Point2Homes). The median income for households led by residents aged 45 to 64 is higher, at $63,704, compared to households led by those aged 25 to 44, which have a median income of $52,894 (as reported by Point2Homes). Households led by individuals under 25 report a median income of $35,588 (as reported by Point2Homes).

Terrytown has approximately 9,059 households, with an average of three members per household (as reported by Point2Homes). Of these households, 62.5% are families, while 37.5% consist of individuals living alone or with non-relatives (as reported by Point2Homes). A notable 80.8% of the locals in Terrytown live above the poverty line (as reported by Point2Homes).