Washington Parish, Louisiana Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Washington Parish is located in Louisiana with a total population of 45,238. It is the 25th most populous county out of 64 in Louisiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Washington Parish is 41.0 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 37.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Washington Parish is $42,776. This is 29% lower than the state median of $60,023. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 46% lower. The poverty rate stands at 24.2%. This is 28% 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 10.8%. This is 71% higher than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $139,400. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $208,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 69.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 3% higher than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Washington Parish is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 29.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.1%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.7%.

Education

12.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% 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 84.1%.