Idlewild · National Register of Historic Places
Patterson’s story
194 years in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1832Patterson is settled
PattersonLA
A town of 5,744, settled in 1832. Public schools that outperform most of Louisiana.
Photo: Z28scrambler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
5,744
−3% since 2010
Typical home
$157K
+1.2% in a year
Household income
$50K
median
Median age
36.3
years
Jobs based here
601
A commuter town
What makes Patterson stand out
The 3 things Patterson does most differently from other towns.
A commuter town
93% of working residents leave Patterson for work
Where Patterson’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
601jobs based in Patterson
7%of working residents work in town
24 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Patterson’s report card
Now in Patterson
What neighbors are saying. Town Square →
Residents weigh in
Live in Patterson? Is a D− for health right?
Your answer becomes a post in Patterson’s Town Square.
TT Weaver · 12h · Town talk
Patterson Schools
I was thinking about the local schools we have here in Patterson and I thought of Patterson Junior High School - did you or your kids attend school…
Or start one of these
Weather
Forecast →84°
Partly Cloudy
H 89° · L 73°
Local news
All →- Two men injured in early morning shooting in PattersonKLFY.com · Sep 21
- Patterson Lumberjacks Girls Volleyball (Patterson, LA) ScheduleSports Illustrated · Sep 20
- 61-Year-Old Patterson Man Arrested in Large Narcotics BustKQKI News · Sep 3
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Patterson. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Patterson’s public schools outperform 77% of Louisiana districts
The public schools Patterson’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 77% of Louisiana’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
A−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hattie A. Watts Elementary School | PK–4 | 601 | A− |
| Patterson Junior High School | 5–8 | 374 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within LA on state tests and graduationAll 2 schools →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Patterson
Most working residents leave Patterson for work: only 7% work in town. The top destinations are Morgan City (16%), Franklin (11%) and Bayou Vista (5%). Half commute less than 24 miles.
7%work in town
Where working residents work
In Patterson7%
Morgan City16%
Franklin11%
Bayou Vista5%
Lafayette5%
24 mi
median commute distance
601
jobs based in Patterson
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
Healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Patterson beats the Louisiana average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 19.
D−Health Grade
32 measures vs. Louisiana
1 better12 too close to call19 worse
| What stands out | Patterson | LA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.7% | 7.5% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 32.4% | 22.5% |
Ochsner St. Mary
6.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
20th
percentile among LA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Housing
A typical Patterson home is worth about $157K
The typical Patterson home is worth about $157,000, up 1.2% in a year, 28% below the Louisiana typical home.
$157KZillow home value
Typical home value
Patterson$157K
Louisiana$217K
+1.2%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Natural hazards
Very high risk, with hurricanes at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 92% of U.S. communities.
92risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesTornadoesInland flooding
69
paid flood claims since 1978
12
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers
Patterson has warm winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 44°, and snow is almost unheard of.
91°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter46–65°
Spring60–78°
Summer74–90°
Fall61–80°
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
91°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 63% of U.S. towns
Patterson reports less crime per resident than 63% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
BSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Patterson2
Louisiana4.7
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Patterson2.5
Louisiana18.6
U.S.15.5
63rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
89th
percentile among LA towns
11
violent crimes reported in 2025
14
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Famous people from Patterson
12 notable people were born in Patterson.
D
Dalton HilliardAmerican football player · born 1964G
Gillis WilsonAmerican football player · born 1977
About Patterson
City in Louisiana, United States
Patterson is a city in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2020 census, Patterson had a population of 5,931. It is part of the Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1832
- Population
- 5,931
- Area
- 2.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 10 ft
- ZIP code
- 70392
- Area code
- 985
More about Patterson
Still missing for Patterson:archive photosupcoming events