Tensas Parish, Louisiana Demographics 2026

Name: Tensas Parish, Louisiana Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Tensas Parish, Louisiana has a population of 3,935, the 64th most populous county in Louisiana. The median household income is $36,615 and the median home value is $86,300. The poverty rate is 34.4%.

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

Tensas Parish Quick Facts

Population 3,935

Median Household Income $36,615

Median Home Value $86,300

Poverty Rate 34.4%

Unemployment Rate 11.4%

Median Age 47.5 years

Homeownership Rate 74.2%

Affordability Ratio 2.4x

Bachelor's Degree+ 14.6%

High School Graduation 80.5%

Cities/Places 3

Population 3,935 64th of 64

Median Income $36,615 40% lower than state

Poverty Rate 34.4%

Unemployment 11.4%

How Tensas Parish Changed

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

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	3,992	3,935	-1.4%
Median household income	$36,074	$36,615	+1.5%
Median home value	$80,300	$86,300	+7.5%

Median Household Income

Tensas Parish

$36,615

$60,756

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Tensas Parish

$86,300

$216,500

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 35.2%

$25K-$50K 28.8%

$50K-$100K 29.2%

$100K+ 6.8%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

9.4%

$10K-$15K

16.5%

$15K-$20K

3.0%

$20K-$25K

6.3%

$25K-$30K

8.3%

$30K-$35K

2.6%

$35K-$40K

9.3%

$40K-$45K

5.3%

$45K-$50K

3.2%

$50K-$60K

8.1%

$60K-$75K

13.6%

$75K-$100K

7.5%

$100K-$125K

3.2%

$125K-$150K

1.5%

$150K-$200K

0.3%

$200K+

1.8%

Employment

11.4% Unemployment Rate State: 6.3%|National: 5.2%

35.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 74.2%

Renter 25.8%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $601/mo 19.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.4%

18-34

14.7%

35-54

20.6%

55-74

32.0%

75+

11.3%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 59 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Tensas Parish

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Newellton	997	$25,190	46.9%	$52,800
St. Joseph	603	$38,393	39.1%	$59,100
Waterproof	576	$21,786	70.7%	$47,300

Explore Louisiana Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Tensas Parish is located in Louisiana with a total population of 3,935. It is the 64th most populous county out of 64 in Louisiana. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Tensas Parish is 47.5 years. This is 25% higher than the state median of 38.0 years. 11.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Tensas Parish is $36,615. This is 40% lower than the state median of $60,756. It is also 55% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 34.4%. This is 82% 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 11.4%. This is 82% higher than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $86,300. Housing costs are 60% lower than the state median of $216,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Tensas Parish is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 67.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Tensas Parish is Black or African American, making up 54.0% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 41.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (54.0% vs 30.5%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 7.2%.

Education

14.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 46% 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 80.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Tensas 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 Tensas Parish, Louisiana?

Tensas Parish has a population of 3,935, making it the 64th most populous county in Louisiana.

What is the median income in Tensas Parish?

The median household income in Tensas Parish is $36,615 with a poverty rate of 34.4%.

How many cities are in Tensas Parish, Louisiana?

Tensas Parish contains 3 Census-designated places.