Opelousas city, Louisiana Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Opelousas city is a small city located in Louisiana. The total population is 15,662. It ranks as the 32nd most populous out of 487 cities and towns in Louisiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Opelousas city is 34.3 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 37.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Opelousas city is $36,260. This is 40% lower than the state median of $60,023. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 54% lower. The poverty rate stands at 34.0%. This is 80% 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 10.3%. This is 62% higher than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $113,000. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $208,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 50.6% 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 Opelousas city is Black or African American, making up 78.5% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 16.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (16.1%) is well below the state average of 56.2%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (78.5% vs 30.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.6%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

10.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 59% lower 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 78.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Opelousas 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.