Population 21,509 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Gretna
Household size in Gretna
| Period | Gretna | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.50 | 2.65 | 2.66 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.59 | 2.64 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.39 | 2.60 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.29 | 2.55 | 2.59 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.21 | −0.10 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Gretna is a place of small households, averaging 2.29 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.50 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only five of the 151 Louisiana cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
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 Gretna
| Period | Gretna | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2 | 37.8 | 36.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.1 | 37.9 | 37.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.6 | 39.3 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.1 | 40.1 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +2.3 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Gretna are younger than 40.1 and half are older, the same as the national median. The median age has climbed from 38.2 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the southwest, the oldest in the north.
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 Gretna
| Period | Gretna | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 16.1% | 14.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 16.0% | 15.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.6% | 13.8% | 14.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.6% | 15.3% | 15.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | −0.8 pts | +0.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in six households in Gretna (16.6%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 2.0 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 Gretna
Renters in Gretna
| Period | Gretna | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.7% | 38.4% | 31.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 49.3% | 41.4% | 33.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 48.3% | 41.5% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 51.2% | 39.4% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +1.0 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Gretna: 51.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among owners, 47.0% have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 1.5 points, as it has nationally. Only five of the 151 Louisiana cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of renters.
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 Gretna
| Period | Gretna | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 19.1% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 14.8% | 13.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.3% | 13.4% | 15.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 13.6% | 14.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | −5.6 pts | +0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Gretna as nationally: 9.2%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in the New Orleans area overall (13.6%). Vacancy is down 5.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Gretna
| Period | Gretna | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1968 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1967 | 1969 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1968 | 1969 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1972 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Gretna is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1969, 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 1966 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the north has the oldest housing. Of the 151 Louisiana cities with 5,000+ people, only three have older homes.
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 Gretna
| Period | Gretna | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $889 | $945 | $755 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $946 | $973 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $999 | $1,062 | $920 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,256 | $1,334 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$367 | +$389 | +$366 | +$606 |
The median renter in Gretna pays $1,256 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $367 a month since 2006–10, up 41%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 42.5% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northeast; the highest are in the southeast.
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 Gretna
Bachelor's degrees in Gretna
| Period | Gretna | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.1% | 25.0% | 22.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.9% | 25.8% | 22.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.7% | 29.1% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.9% | 33.0% | 27.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +8.0 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Gretna than nationally: 25.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Compared with other Louisiana cities, though, Gretna has a higher share of college graduates than most.
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 Gretna
| Period | Gretna | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.2% | 82.5% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 79.2% | 83.8% | 83.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 81.3% | 85.8% | 85.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 78.3% | 87.2% | 87.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | +4.7 pts | +5.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than one in five adults in Gretna never finished high school, well above the national share: only 78.3% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged down 0.8 points, even as the national rate rose. Gretna has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five Louisiana cities.
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 Gretna
| Period | Gretna | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 9.3% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 9.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 6.9% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 7.1% | 6.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Gretna is close to the national rate: 5.3% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the wider New Orleans area (7.1%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.1 points, mirroring the country.
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).
Gretna compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gretna | 2.29 | 40.1 | 16.6% | 51.2% | 9.2% | 1969 | $1,256 | 25.9% | 78.3% | 5.3% |
| Terrytown | 2.88 | 36.5 | 21.3% | 50.7% | 7.6% | 1977 | $1,273 | 21.1% | 79.3% | 10.3% |
| Harvey | 2.56 | 41.6 | 18.6% | 41.0% | 8.6% | 1978 | $1,292 | 20.4% | 83.6% | 7.5% |
| Timberlane | 3.00 | 36.0 | 17.4% | 26.5% | 7.2% | 1980 | $1,554 | 24.4% | 90.0% | 11.4% |
| Woodmere | 3.13 | 36.1 | 27.8% | 21.4% | 7.8% | 1981 | $1,343 | 16.9% | 79.4% | 8.7% |
| Marrero | 2.73 | 40.4 | 17.1% | 29.5% | 10.7% | 1977 | $1,230 | 16.9% | 78.9% | 8.3% |
| Estelle | 2.87 | 40.1 | 16.0% | 12.0% | 7.9% | 1984 | $1,193 | 18.9% | 79.5% | 8.0% |
| Arabi | 2.76 | 38.8 | 23.9% | 31.5% | 13.1% | 1969 | $1,142 | 25.3% | 82.7% | 10.4% |
| New Orleans area | 2.55 | 40.1 | 15.3% | 39.4% | 13.6% | 1972 | $1,334 | 33.0% | 87.2% | 7.1% |
| Belle Chasse | 2.83 | 38.3 | 9.9% | 28.6% | 14.0% | 1991 | $1,380 | 26.5% | 91.4% | 4.0% |
| St. Rosalie | 2.87 | 40.5 | 1.8% | 49.4% | 23.0% | 1991 | $1,768 | 21.5% | 94.5% | 2.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Watauga, TX · Breaux Bridge, LA · Brownwood, TX · Caledonia, MI · Canandaigua, NY · Candler-McAfee, GA · Canfield, OH · Capitol Heights, MD · Carney, MD · Carthage, MO
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 Gretna. 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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