Population 7,477 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Jena: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Jena
Household size in Jena
| Period | Jena | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.57 | 2.66 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.23 | 2.64 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.84 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.69 | 2.59 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.12 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in Jena average 2.69 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in Louisiana overall, where it has 2.59 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.57, 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 Jena
| Period | Jena | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.7 | 36.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.4 | 37.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.9 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.6 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.0 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Jena are younger than 38.6 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 40.7, even as the national median rose.
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 Jena
| Period | Jena | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 14.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 15.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 19.6% | 14.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.5% | 15.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +0.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Jena as they are nationally: 12.5%, against 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in Louisiana as a whole (15.2%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.4 points, 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 Jena
Renters in Jena
| Period | Jena | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 31.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.9% | 33.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.7% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.8% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Jena is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly half of owners (47.6%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 5.4 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Jena
| Period | Jena | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.3% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 13.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 24.2% | 15.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.4% | 14.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | +0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Jena: 15.4% of homes are empty, 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. The picture is much the same across Louisiana.
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 Jena
| Period | Jena | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1973 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Jena are the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1973 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the center.
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 Jena
| Period | Jena | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $630 | $755 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $537 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $569 | $920 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $635 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$6 | +$366 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Jena costs $635 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 23.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the southeast. Only one other Louisiana city with 5,000+ people 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 Jena
Bachelor's degrees in Jena
| Period | Jena | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.4% | 22.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 22.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.5% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.3% | 27.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Jena: 18.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 2.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the northwest.
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 Jena
| Period | Jena | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.7% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.1% | 83.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.5% | 85.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 80.7% | 87.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +5.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in five adults in Jena never finished high school, well above the national share: only 80.7% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 1.0 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Jena 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 Jena
| Period | Jena | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.8% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.3% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 6.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −1.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Jena than nationally: unemployment was 4.3%, against 5.4%. 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).
Jena 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jena | 2.69 | 38.6 | 12.5% | 21.8% | 15.4% | 1980 | $635 | 18.3% | 80.7% | 4.3% |
| Eden | 2.70 | 51.4 | 10.3% | 6.4% | 15.4% | 1993 | $733 | 11.8% | 87.6% | 0.7% |
| Routon | 3.33 | 41.8 | 15.4% | 3.3% | 25.3% | 1999 | $740 | 13.6% | 89.8% | 1.1% |
| Trout | 3.08 | 36.2 | 15.6% | 6.1% | 26.0% | 1992 | $957 | 10.3% | 84.7% | 5.3% |
| Searcy | 3.70 | 40.4 | 8.7% | 12.4% | 34.4% | 1985 | $1,688 | 18.8% | 88.4% | 9.0% |
| Summerville | 2.61 | 47.8 | 14.5% | 6.7% | 22.2% | 1980 | $826 | 8.5% | 88.7% | 3.3% |
| Nebo | 2.51 | 50.8 | 10.3% | 16.5% | 23.3% | 1990 | $695 | 11.0% | 86.3% | 2.0% |
| White Sulphur Springs | 2.87 | 36.5 | 15.1% | 19.7% | 30.1% | 1987 | $977 | 8.6% | 86.0% | 5.5% |
| Manifest | 2.39 | 48.2 | 8.9% | 12.2% | 19.5% | 1988 | $699 | 11.9% | 86.2% | 8.6% |
| Little Creek | 3.70 | 40.4 | 8.7% | 12.4% | 34.4% | 1985 | $1,688 | 18.8% | 88.4% | 9.0% |
| Aimwell | 2.33 | 49.1 | 11.7% | 8.0% | 14.6% | 1986 | $619 | 10.6% | 92.4% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Tecumseh, OK · Thomaston, CT · Thermalito, CA · Thatcher, AZ · Terrebonne, OR · Tequesta, FL · Tenino, WA · Temple, PA · Tellico Village, TN · Thornville, OH
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 Jena. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.