Empire, Louisiana Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 988, Empire'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

Empire is a small community located in Louisiana, within Plaquemines Parish. The total population is 988. It ranks as the 274th most populous out of 488 Census-designated places in Louisiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Empire is 28.9 years. This is 24% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. With 38.3% of the population under 18, Empire has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Empire is $47,083. This is 23% lower than the state median of $60,756. It is also 42% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.8%. This is 42% 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 6.2%. The median home value is $152,900. Housing costs are 29% lower than the state median of $216,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 91.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 35% higher than the state average of 67.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Empire is Black or African American, making up 49.3% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 33.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (49.3% vs 30.5%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 7.2%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (14.4% vs 1.7%).

Education

8.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 68% 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 83.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Empire, 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.