Population 139,348 · 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 Metairie: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Metairie
Household size in Metairie
| Period | Metairie | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.65 | 2.66 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.59 | 2.64 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.40 | 2.60 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.36 | 2.55 | 2.59 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | −0.10 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Metairie is a place of small households, averaging 2.36 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.43, mirroring the country. Only ten 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 Metairie
| Period | Metairie | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.9 | 37.8 | 36.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.6 | 37.9 | 37.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.3 | 39.3 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.1 | 40.1 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +2.3 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Metairie is 43.1 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 41.9 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the east.
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 Metairie
| Period | Metairie | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 16.1% | 14.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 16.0% | 15.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.8% | 13.8% | 14.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.6% | 15.3% | 15.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −0.8 pts | +0.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Metairie than nationally: 9.6%, against 11.6%. Metairie has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Louisiana cities.
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 Metairie
Renters in Metairie
| Period | Metairie | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.9% | 38.4% | 31.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 38.2% | 41.4% | 33.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.0% | 41.5% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 37.9% | 39.4% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +1.0 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Metairie than nationally: 37.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among owners, 46.5% have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.0 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Metairie
| Period | Metairie | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.8% | 19.1% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 14.8% | 13.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 13.4% | 15.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 13.6% | 14.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −5.6 pts | +0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Metairie than nationally: 7.9%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Vacancy is down 4.8 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Metairie has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Louisiana cities.
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 Metairie
| Period | Metairie | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1968 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1969 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1969 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1972 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Metairie run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1972 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the southwest has the oldest housing. Only 11 of the 151 Louisiana cities with 5,000+ people 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 Metairie
| Period | Metairie | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,004 | $945 | $755 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,007 | $973 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,047 | $1,062 | $920 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,409 | $1,334 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$405 | +$389 | +$366 | +$606 |
The median renter in Metairie pays $1,409 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in the New Orleans area as a whole ($1,334). Rents are up $405 a month from 2006–10, a 40% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.2% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Metairie
Bachelor's degrees in Metairie
| Period | Metairie | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.8% | 25.0% | 22.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.4% | 25.8% | 22.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.6% | 29.1% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 40.6% | 33.0% | 27.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +8.0 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Metairie than nationally: 40.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 151 Louisiana cities with 5,000+ people, only eight have a higher share of college graduates.
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 Metairie
| Period | Metairie | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.1% | 82.5% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.2% | 83.8% | 83.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.8% | 85.8% | 85.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.8% | 87.2% | 87.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +4.7 pts | +5.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Metairie have finished high school as nationally: 90.8%, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in the wider New Orleans area (87.2%). The share with a diploma has risen 2.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Metairie
| Period | Metairie | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 9.3% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 9.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 6.9% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.7% | 7.1% | 6.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Metairie than nationally: unemployment was 4.7%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 0.8 points from 2006–10, a smaller 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).
Metairie 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metairie | 2.36 | 43.1 | 9.6% | 37.9% | 7.9% | 1972 | $1,409 | 40.6% | 90.8% | 4.7% |
| Jefferson | 1.86 | 44.8 | 12.7% | 42.5% | 16.5% | 1959 | $1,140 | 35.9% | 89.0% | 2.8% |
| River Ridge | 2.43 | 44.6 | 7.7% | 29.5% | 9.2% | 1971 | $1,225 | 40.0% | 93.8% | 3.5% |
| Harahan | 2.11 | 49.2 | 3.3% | 25.9% | 5.8% | 1972 | $1,188 | 44.4% | 94.3% | 3.9% |
| Kenner | 2.62 | 41.4 | 13.1% | 36.8% | 9.7% | 1977 | $1,266 | 27.8% | 84.0% | 6.3% |
| Bridge City | 2.63 | 35.6 | 19.5% | 39.5% | 14.6% | 1973 | $1,385 | 8.6% | 75.9% | 11.4% |
| Waggaman | 2.96 | 34.1 | 26.6% | 29.6% | 6.5% | 1982 | $1,356 | 15.8% | 81.9% | 8.0% |
| South Kenner | 3.08 | 45.0 | 20.0% | 0.0% | 4.1% | 2005 | $1,326 | 12.9% | 90.5% | 2.9% |
| Avondale | 3.02 | 33.8 | 32.6% | 13.5% | 7.9% | 1972 | $1,315 | 22.4% | 83.5% | 8.5% |
| Westwego | 2.44 | 41.5 | 15.8% | 50.0% | 15.2% | 1968 | $950 | 18.1% | 77.6% | 5.1% |
| New Orleans area | 2.55 | 40.1 | 15.3% | 39.4% | 13.6% | 1972 | $1,334 | 33.0% | 87.2% | 7.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Indio, CA · Jersey City, NJ · Kendall, FL · Kennesaw, GA · Jackson, TN · Kent, WA · Knoxville, TN · Kansas City, KS · Independence, MO · Irvine, CA
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 Metairie. 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.