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Rapides Parish, Louisiana Demographics 2026

Rapides Parish, Louisiana has a population of 127,527, the 13th most populous county in Louisiana. The median household income is $54,967 and the median home value is $181,100. The poverty rate is 19.9%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Rapides Parish Quick Facts

Population 127,527
Median Household Income $54,967
Median Home Value $181,100
Poverty Rate 19.9%
Unemployment Rate 5.1%
Median Age 37.9 years
Homeownership Rate 64.8%
Affordability Ratio 3.3x
Bachelor's Degree+ 23.1%
High School Graduation 87.9%
Cities/Places 12
Population 127,527 13th of 64
Median Income $54,967 10% lower than state
Poverty Rate 19.9%
Unemployment 5.1%

How Rapides Parish Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population128,470127,527-0.7%
Median household income$55,946$54,967-1.7%
Median home value$179,100$181,100+1.1%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 23.6%
$25K-$50K 22.5%
$50K-$100K 26.7%
$100K+ 27.2%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
7.2%
$10K-$15K
5.5%
$15K-$20K
5.5%
$20K-$25K
5.4%
$25K-$30K
4.5%
$30K-$35K
5.3%
$35K-$40K
4.6%
$40K-$45K
4.2%
$45K-$50K
3.9%
$50K-$60K
7.2%
$60K-$75K
8.1%
$75K-$100K
11.5%
$100K-$125K
8.1%
$125K-$150K
5.5%
$150K-$200K
7.3%
$200K+
6.3%

Employment

5.1% Unemployment Rate State: 6.3%|National: 5.2%
58.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 64.8%
Renter 35.2%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.3x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $950/mo 20.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

55out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 59 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Rapides Parish

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Alexandria44,060$47,11327.0%$183,700
Pineville14,160$49,77421.1%$201,500
Ball3,869$80,07410.9%$175,800
Woodworth2,432$84,50012.5%$302,200
Deville1,572N/A16.2%$124,600
Glenmora1,284$31,83936.4%$103,700
Boyce1,037$37,89515.0%$86,000
Forest Hill727$115,9386.6%$320,700
Lecompte592$35,35738.3%$59,900
Cheneyville559$17,13244.5%N/A
Echo552$127,9650.0%N/A
McNary248$57,5008.9%$127,700

Population Overview

Rapides Parish is located in Louisiana with a total population of 127,527. It is the 13th most populous county out of 64 in Louisiana. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rapides Parish is 37.9 years. This is about the same as the state median of 38.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rapides Parish is $54,967. This is 10% lower than the state median of $60,756. It is also 32% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.9%. This is 5% higher than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 18% lower than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $181,100. Housing costs are 16% lower than the state median of $216,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 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 Rapides Parish is White (non-Hispanic), making up 59.4% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 30.7%.

Education

23.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 14% 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 87.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Rapides Parish come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Louisiana and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Rapides Parish, Louisiana?

Rapides Parish has a population of 127,527, making it the 13th most populous county in Louisiana.

What is the median income in Rapides Parish?

The median household income in Rapides Parish is $54,967 with a poverty rate of 19.9%.

How many cities are in Rapides Parish, Louisiana?

Rapides Parish contains 12 Census-designated places.