Population 4,847 · 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 West Lake Forest: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in West Lake Forest
Household size in West Lake Forest
| Period | West Lake Forest | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.71 | 2.65 | 2.66 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.51 | 2.59 | 2.64 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.41 | 2.60 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.44 | 2.55 | 2.59 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.28 | −0.10 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in West Lake Forest run small, averaging 2.44 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has dropped from 2.71 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southwest.
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 West Lake Forest
| Period | West Lake Forest | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.3 | 37.8 | 36.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 31.3 | 37.9 | 37.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.7 | 39.3 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.6 | 40.1 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +12.3 | +2.3 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
West Lake Forest is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.6, against 40.1 nationally. West Lake Forest is younger than most New Orleans neighborhoods.
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 West Lake Forest
| Period | West Lake Forest | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.4% | 16.1% | 14.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.1% | 16.0% | 15.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 17.6% | 13.8% | 14.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 21.6% | 15.3% | 15.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −14.8 pts | −0.8 pts | +0.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in West Lake Forest: 21.6% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. West Lake Forest has a higher share of single-parent households than most New Orleans neighborhoods.
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 West Lake Forest
Renters in West Lake Forest
| Period | West Lake Forest | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 62.7% | 38.4% | 31.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 61.7% | 41.4% | 33.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 72.0% | 41.5% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 70.5% | 39.4% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +1.0 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in West Lake Forest: 70.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 54.7% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the north; owners are most common in the southwest.
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 West Lake Forest
| Period | West Lake Forest | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2% | 19.1% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.0% | 14.8% | 13.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.9% | 13.4% | 15.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.7% | 13.6% | 14.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −23.5 pts | −5.6 pts | +0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in West Lake Forest: 14.7% 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 New Orleans area as a whole looks much the same.
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 West Lake Forest
| Period | West Lake Forest | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1968 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1969 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1969 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1972 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in West Lake Forest are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1984, versus 1980 across the U.S. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the east has the oldest housing. West Lake Forest has newer homes than at least four in five New Orleans neighborhoods.
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 West Lake Forest
| Period | West Lake Forest | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $958 | $945 | $755 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $930 | $973 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $892 | $1,062 | $920 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,109 | $1,334 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$151 | +$389 | +$366 | +$606 |
The median renter in West Lake Forest pays $1,109 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 46.3% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the northeast.
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 West Lake Forest
Bachelor's degrees in West Lake Forest
| Period | West Lake Forest | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.4% | 25.0% | 22.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.1% | 25.8% | 22.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 29.1% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.7% | 33.0% | 27.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | +8.0 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in West Lake Forest: 18.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. West Lake Forest has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five New Orleans neighborhoods.
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 West Lake Forest
| Period | West Lake Forest | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.8% | 82.5% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 79.1% | 83.8% | 83.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 79.7% | 85.8% | 85.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.3% | 87.2% | 87.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +12.5 pts | +4.7 pts | +5.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in West Lake Forest is close to the national rate: 90.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in the New Orleans area as a whole (87.2%).
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 West Lake Forest
| Period | West Lake Forest | New Orleans area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 9.3% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 17.0% | 9.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 6.9% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.8% | 7.1% | 6.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | −2.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in West Lake Forest runs well above the national rate: 12.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. West Lake Forest has higher unemployment than at least four in five New Orleans neighborhoods. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
West Lake Forest 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Lake Forest | 2.44 | 37.6 | 21.6% | 70.5% | 14.7% | 1984 | $1,109 | 18.7% | 90.3% | 12.8% |
| Plum Orchard | 3.57 | 40.1 | 25.3% | 29.4% | 14.7% | 1984 | $1,171 | 15.3% | 91.2% | 16.7% |
| Read Blvd West | 2.87 | 41.6 | 16.4% | 35.3% | 8.0% | 1972 | $1,539 | 18.3% | 86.1% | 11.5% |
| Pines Village | 2.88 | 34.3 | 31.8% | 51.2% | 18.8% | 1973 | $1,233 | 11.6% | 74.4% | 31.9% |
| Little Woods | 2.69 | 36.7 | 24.1% | 48.4% | 16.8% | 1979 | $1,256 | 22.2% | 84.5% | 12.4% |
| Read Blvd East | 3.05 | 40.8 | 17.5% | 15.3% | 4.4% | 1980 | $1,235 | 29.9% | 88.6% | 5.6% |
| Gentilly Woods | 2.97 | 35.1 | 23.7% | 35.6% | 14.5% | 1968 | $1,071 | 39.5% | 95.5% | 1.4% |
| Milneburg | 2.32 | 37.8 | 23.8% | 29.6% | 7.8% | 1961 | $1,497 | 37.1% | 90.5% | 11.7% |
| Gentilly Terrace | 2.31 | 44.8 | 11.5% | 28.7% | 10.9% | 1954 | $1,130 | 36.5% | 90.8% | 11.1% |
| Lower 9th Ward | 3.18 | 32.3 | 32.4% | 51.8% | 20.1% | 1988 | $1,269 | 22.3% | 89.2% | 14.5% |
| Saint Anthony | 2.19 | 40.1 | 19.5% | 61.3% | 13.4% | 1974 | $1,305 | 33.6% | 85.8% | 6.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Lakeside-Lester Park, Duluth, MN · Somerville, Manchester, NH · Skies West, Albuquerque, NM · Six Corners, East Providence, RI · Sheldon, Mobile, AL · Sharyland Plantation, Mission, TX · Santa Cruz Southwest, Tucson, AZ · Royal Crown Estates, Novi, MI · Riverside Rancho, Glendale, CA · Lynwood Hills, Chula Vista, 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 West Lake Forest. 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.