Mer Rouge, Louisiana Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 437, Mer Rouge'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

Mer Rouge is a small community located in Louisiana, within Morehouse Parish. The total population is 437. It ranks as the 375th most populous out of 488 Census-designated places in Louisiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mer Rouge is 58.4 years. This is 54% higher than the state median of 38.0 years. Only 10.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 13.5% 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 Mer Rouge is $56,583. This is 7% lower than the state median of $60,756. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.3%. This is 29% 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 11.1%. This is 77% higher than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $66,000. Housing costs are 70% lower than the state median of $216,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Mer Rouge is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 55.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% lower than the state average of 67.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Mer Rouge is White (non-Hispanic), making up 58.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 37.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 7.2%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

15.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% 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 90.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Mer Rouge, 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.