Population 13,693 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Central City
Household size in Central City
| Period | Central City | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.19 | 2.65 | 2.66 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.11 | 2.59 | 2.64 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.24 | 2.60 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.55 | 2.59 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.19 | −0.10 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Central City are small: just 2.38 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.19, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Central City
| Period | Central City | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.6 | 37.8 | 36.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 37.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.0 | 39.3 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.9 | 40.1 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.7 | +2.3 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Central City is 36.9 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 39.6, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the west and oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Central City
| Period | Central City | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.9% | 16.1% | 14.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.1% | 16.0% | 15.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.6% | 13.8% | 14.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 20.9% | 15.3% | 15.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | −0.8 pts | +0.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Central City: 20.9% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 4.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Central City
Renters in Central City
| Period | Central City | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.9% | 38.4% | 31.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 79.2% | 41.4% | 33.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 77.8% | 41.5% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 75.2% | 39.4% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Central City rent: 75.2% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 54.1% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 4.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Central City
| Period | Central City | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.9% | 19.1% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.9% | 14.8% | 13.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 27.7% | 13.4% | 15.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.3% | 13.6% | 14.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.6 pts | −5.6 pts | +0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 27.3% of the housing in Central City, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 6.6 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Central City
| Period | Central City | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1946 | 1968 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1969 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1956 | 1969 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1972 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +19 | +4 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Central City is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1965, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1946 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the south.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Central City
| Period | Central City | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $769 | $945 | $755 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $751 | $973 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $810 | $1,062 | $920 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $997 | $1,334 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$229 | +$389 | +$366 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Central City costs $997 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $229 a month since 2006–10, up 30%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 39.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Only one other New Orleans neighborhood has lower rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Central City
Bachelor's degrees in Central City
| Period | Central City | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.8% | 25.0% | 22.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.2% | 25.8% | 22.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.0% | 29.1% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.1% | 33.0% | 27.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.3 pts | +8.0 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Central City than nationally: 26.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.3 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the west.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Central City
| Period | Central City | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.3% | 82.5% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 69.7% | 83.8% | 83.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 74.6% | 85.8% | 85.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 79.7% | 87.2% | 87.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.4 pts | +4.7 pts | +5.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in five adults in Central City never finished high school, well above the national share: only 79.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 9.4 points, in line with the national trend. Only two of New Orleans' 49 neighborhoods have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Central City
| Period | Central City | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.2% | 9.3% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 19.7% | 9.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 6.9% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 7.1% | 6.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −17.8 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Central City: 7.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 17.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Central City compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central City | 2.38 | 36.9 | 20.9% | 75.2% | 27.3% | 1965 | $997 | 26.1% | 79.7% | 7.4% |
| Milan | 2.32 | 42.1 | 11.9% | 59.4% | 28.2% | 1945 | $1,653 | 61.3% | 93.9% | 10.4% |
| Lower Garden District | 1.69 | 38.7 | 3.4% | 68.3% | 29.8% | 1955 | $1,639 | 70.3% | 96.6% | 2.2% |
| Broadmoor | 2.50 | 40.4 | 8.7% | 41.5% | 15.9% | 1944 | $1,320 | 53.8% | 92.5% | 7.8% |
| Central Business District | 1.46 | 49.2 | 8.2% | 72.0% | 43.0% | 1967 | $1,791 | 59.8% | 95.2% | 7.1% |
| Irish Channel | 2.00 | 40.8 | 2.7% | 38.8% | 21.5% | 1938 | $1,644 | 66.4% | 97.5% | 2.6% |
| Tulane Gravier | 1.88 | 40.2 | 12.6% | 71.8% | 23.3% | 1960 | $1,285 | 32.4% | 84.9% | 9.2% |
| Uptown | 2.12 | 44.8 | 5.1% | 37.6% | 21.6% | 1940 | $1,734 | 72.3% | 98.7% | 4.3% |
| Marlyville | 2.30 | 41.0 | 15.3% | 43.6% | 16.2% | 1946 | $1,658 | 67.0% | 96.5% | 8.5% |
| Gert Town | 2.44 | 28.2 | 27.1% | 82.4% | 24.7% | 1978 | $1,291 | 39.1% | 93.5% | 15.4% |
| Audubon | 2.81 | 30.3 | 6.7% | 34.7% | 19.1% | 1938 | $1,905 | 88.2% | 99.5% | 2.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: North Stamford, Stamford, CT · Montopolis, Austin, TX · Mt Pleasant, Cleveland, OH · Neighbors Southwest, Beaverton, OR · North Beach, Atlantic Beach, FL · North Broadway, Newark, NJ · North Clairemont, San Diego, CA · North Plymouth, Plymouth, MA · North Shores, North Bay Village, FL · Montclare, Elmwood Park, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Central City. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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