St. Helena Parish, Louisiana Demographics 2026

Population Overview

St. Helena Parish is located in Louisiana with a total population of 10,849. It is the 56th most populous county out of 64 in Louisiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in St. Helena Parish is 42.4 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 37.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in St. Helena Parish is $50,193. This is 16% lower than the state median of $60,023. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 36% lower. The poverty rate stands at 30.0%. This is 59% 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 21.3%. This is 237% higher than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $106,400. Housing costs are 49% lower than the state median of $208,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, St. Helena Parish is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in St. Helena Parish is Black or African American, making up 50.2% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 44.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (50.2% vs 30.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

11.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 56% 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 81.1%.