St. James Parish, Louisiana Demographics 2026

Population Overview

St. James Parish is located in Louisiana with a total population of 19,797. It is the 46th most populous county out of 64 in Louisiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in St. James Parish is 40.8 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 37.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in St. James Parish is $64,536. This is 8% higher than the state median of $60,023. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 18% lower. The poverty rate stands at 10.5%. This is 44% lower than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $197,800. Housing costs are 5% lower than the state median of $208,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 85.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% higher than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in St. James Parish is White (non-Hispanic), making up 49.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 48.4%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (48.4% vs 30.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

20.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% 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 88.6%.