The New Orleans metro area: Jefferson Parish, Orleans Parish, Plaquemines Parish, St. Bernard Parish, St. Charles Parish, St. James Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish · Population 981,662 · 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 the New Orleans area: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in the New Orleans area
Household size in the New Orleans area
| Period | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.65 | 2.66 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.59 | 2.64 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.60 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.55 | 2.59 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
The average household in the New Orleans area has 2.55 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.65, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the center.
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 the New Orleans area
| Period | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.8 | 36.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.9 | 37.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.3 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.1 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in the New Orleans area are younger than 40.1 and half are older, the same as the national median. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.8, in line with the national trend.
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 the New Orleans area
| Period | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 14.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.0% | 15.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.8% | 14.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.3% | 15.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | +0.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in the New Orleans area: 15.3% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 0.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only six have a higher share of single-parent households.
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 the New Orleans area
Renters in the New Orleans area
| Period | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.4% | 31.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 41.4% | 33.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.5% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.4% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in the New Orleans area than nationally: 39.4% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 46.8% have no mortgage at all, 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 edged up 1.0 points, as it has 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 the New Orleans area
| Period | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.1% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 13.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.4% | 15.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.6% | 14.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −5.6 pts | +0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in the New Orleans area than nationally: 13.6%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is down 5.6 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 the New Orleans area
| Period | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1968 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +7 | +6 |
Housing in the New Orleans area leans older: the median home dates to 1972, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1968 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
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 the New Orleans area
| Period | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $945 | $755 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $973 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,062 | $920 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,334 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$389 | +$366 | +$606 |
A typical rental in the New Orleans area costs $1,334 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in Louisiana overall ($1,122). Rents are up $389 a month from 2006–10, a 41% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 36.1% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 the New Orleans area
Bachelor's degrees in the New Orleans area
| Period | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.0% | 22.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.8% | 22.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.1% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.0% | 27.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.0 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in the New Orleans area as nationally: 33.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share is higher than in Louisiana overall (27.5%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.0 points, mirroring the country.
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 the New Orleans area
| Period | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.5% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.8% | 83.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.8% | 85.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.2% | 87.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +5.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in the New Orleans area never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma has risen 4.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The New Orleans area has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five large metro areas.
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 the New Orleans area
| Period | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 6.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in the New Orleans area than nationally: unemployment was 7.1%, against 5.4%. Only five of the 100 large U.S. metro areas have higher unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.2 points, in line with the national trend.
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).
Largest cities in the New Orleans area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans area (all) | 2.55 | 40.1 | 15.3% | 39.4% | 13.6% | 1972 | $1,334 | 33.0% | 87.2% | 7.1% |
| Metairie | 2.36 | 43.1 | 9.6% | 37.9% | 7.9% | 1972 | $1,409 | 40.6% | 90.8% | 4.7% |
| Kenner | 2.62 | 41.4 | 13.1% | 36.8% | 9.7% | 1977 | $1,266 | 27.8% | 84.0% | 6.3% |
| Marrero | 2.73 | 40.4 | 17.1% | 29.5% | 10.7% | 1977 | $1,230 | 16.9% | 78.9% | 8.3% |
| Laplace | 2.90 | 38.2 | 19.9% | 22.5% | 11.2% | 1988 | $1,606 | 19.8% | 87.7% | 9.5% |
| Harvey | 2.56 | 41.6 | 18.6% | 41.0% | 8.6% | 1978 | $1,292 | 20.4% | 83.6% | 7.5% |
| Terrytown | 2.88 | 36.5 | 21.3% | 50.7% | 7.6% | 1977 | $1,273 | 21.1% | 79.3% | 10.3% |
| Gretna | 2.29 | 40.1 | 16.6% | 51.2% | 9.2% | 1969 | $1,256 | 25.9% | 78.3% | 5.3% |
| Chalmette | 2.73 | 36.0 | 21.7% | 38.7% | 7.8% | 1977 | $1,208 | 13.2% | 82.8% | 8.5% |
| Estelle | 2.87 | 40.1 | 16.0% | 12.0% | 7.9% | 1984 | $1,193 | 18.9% | 79.5% | 8.0% |
| Belle Chasse | 2.83 | 38.3 | 9.9% | 28.6% | 14.0% | 1991 | $1,380 | 26.5% | 91.4% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Bakersfield area · Albuquerque area · Greenville area · Bridgeport area · Omaha area · Tulsa area · Honolulu area · Tucson area · Rochester area · Grand Rapids area
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 the New Orleans area. 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.