Waterproof, Louisiana Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 576, Waterproof's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Waterproof is a small community located in Louisiana, within Tensas Parish. The total population is 576. It ranks as the 340th most populous out of 488 Census-designated places in Louisiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Waterproof is 37.1 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. With 29.3% of the population under 18, Waterproof has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Waterproof is $21,786. This is 64% lower than the state median of $60,756. It is also 73% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 70.7%. This is 273% 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 12.1%. This is 92% higher than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $47,300. Housing costs are 78% lower than the state median of $216,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Waterproof is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 67.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Waterproof has a predominantly Black or African American population, comprising 91.0% of all residents. Asian residents account for 6.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 55.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (91.0% vs 30.5%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.6% vs 1.7%).

Education

20.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% 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 79.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Waterproof, Louisiana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Louisiana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 488 Census-designated places in Louisiana. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.