Catahoula, Louisiana Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 594, Catahoula's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Catahoula is a small community located in Louisiana, within St. Martin Parish. The total population is 594. It ranks as the 334th most populous out of 488 Census-designated places in Louisiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Catahoula is 60.6 years. This is 59% higher than the state median of 38.0 years. Only 7.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 16.8% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Catahoula is $44,539. This is 27% lower than the state median of $60,756. It is also 45% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 31.8%. This is 68% higher than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 7.9%. This is 26% higher than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $151,600. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $216,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 48% higher than the state average of 67.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Catahoula has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.6% of all residents. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (95.6% vs 55.7%).

Education

9.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 64% lower than the state rate of 27.0%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 76.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Catahoula, Louisiana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Louisiana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 488 Census-designated places in Louisiana. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.