New Orleans city, Louisiana Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

New Orleans city is a major urban center located in Louisiana, within Orleans Parish. The total population is 376,035. It ranks as the 1st most populous out of 487 cities and towns in Louisiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in New Orleans city is 38.4 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 37.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in New Orleans city is $55,339. This is 8% lower than the state median of $60,023. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 30% lower. The poverty rate stands at 22.6%. This is 20% 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 7.8%. This is 24% higher than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $296,400. Housing costs are 42% higher than the state median of $208,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.4x. 50.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% lower than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in New Orleans city is Black or African American, making up 54.7% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 30.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (54.7% vs 30.8%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (2.8% vs 1.7%).

Education

41.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places New Orleans city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 58% higher than the state rate of 26.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.1%. Notably, 19.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for New Orleans city, Louisiana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Louisiana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 487 Census-designated places in Louisiana. For official data, visit data.census.gov.