Hessmer, Louisiana Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 828, Hessmer'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

Hessmer is a small community located in Louisiana, within Avoyelles Parish. The total population is 828. It ranks as the 294th most populous out of 488 Census-designated places in Louisiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hessmer is 41.0 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hessmer is $50,625. This is 17% lower than the state median of $60,756. It is also 37% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.7%. This is 41% 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 3.2%. This is 49% lower than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $171,300. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $216,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 64.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 67.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Hessmer is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 14.2%. The Black or African American population (14.2%) is well below the state average of 30.5%.

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 77.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Hessmer, 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.