City profile · Louisiana · Census ACS 2023

Grambling, LA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Grambling - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

5,302
Residents
$17,670
Median income
$176,000
Median home
$881
Median rent (state)

Grambling - the verdict

Nationally, Grambling sits in the 0th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

0th
percentile, household income
35th
percentile, home value
3rd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Grambling, LA

5,302 people live in Grambling, Louisiana - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $17,670 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 53.0%. Grambling's housing stock carries a median value of $176,000, and the median resident age is 21.1 years. About 31.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 38.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 25 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 67% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Louisiana run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Louisiana scores 88.2 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $881 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Louisiana's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). Commute times here average 14.7 minutes, with 58.6% driving alone and 25.2% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 64.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

5,302 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Louisiana

Median Household Income

$17,670 /yr

Poverty 53.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Louisiana average

How does Grambling compare to other US cities?

Grambling measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 0% higher than other cities
Home value 35% pricier than other cities
Median rent 3% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Grambling against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Louisiana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Louisiana-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is Grambling's strongest outlier among Louisiana cities

Among the 475 Louisiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Grambling ranks #17 - the 96th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Grambling only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#417 of 426
2nd percentile in Louisiana
Median Gross Rent
#313 of 477
33rd percentile in Louisiana
Median Home Value
#155 of 419
63rd percentile in Louisiana
Poverty Rate
#17 of 475
96th percentile in Louisiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#54 of 477
88th percentile in Louisiana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Louisiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

0thIncome percentile

0th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Grambling's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$176,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 65% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Grambling $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Grambling, LA Grambling, LA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Grambling, LA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Grambling, LA median $17,670/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Grambling, LA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Grambling, LA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 31.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 53.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 38.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
5,302
Median Income
$17,670
Median Home Value
$176,000
Median Age
21.1
Poverty Rate
53.0%
Labor force participation
38.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
31.9%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,250 residents5,300 residents5,350 residents5,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,345 residents 5,314 residents ▼ -0.6%
Grambling's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
25
housing units authorized
Single-Family
25
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 15
2020 16
2021 0
2022 7
2023 6
2024 25

Permit volume increased 67% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
14.7 minutes
Drive Alone
58.6%
Carpool
8.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.1%
Work from Home
25.2%
Other
2.5%

Based on 1,562 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Louisiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$40
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Louisiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Louisiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Grambling sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$881/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
64.3 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Louisiana

Chackbay
5,287 people
Brownfields
5,263 people
St. Martinville
5,367 people
Avondale
5,200 people
Carlyss
5,184 people
Cut Off
5,157 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Grambling's 5,302 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mayflower, CA
5,303 people
Montevideo, MN
5,303 people
Edinboro, PA
5,303 people
Brush, CO
5,299 people
Central, SC
5,299 people
Ione, CA
5,306 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Grambling's $17,670 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Barahona comunidad, PR
$17,662 median income
Movico, AL
$17,649 median income
San José comunidad, PR
$17,713 median income
University of California-Davis, CA
$17,625 median income
Jonesville, VA
$17,716 median income
Suárez comunidad, PR
$17,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Grambling, LA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Grambling, LA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 7.3% 84.1% 7.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.5% White 7.3% Black or African American 84.1% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.5% Two or more races 7.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Grambling compares to nearby Louisiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Grambling (this city) 5,302 $17,670
Chackbay 5,287 $74,141
Brownfields 5,263 $50,809
St. Martinville 5,367 $33,132
Census ACS 5-year FIPS LA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Grambling, LA?

What is the population of Grambling, LA? +

5,302 people live in Grambling, LA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Grambling, LA? +

Grambling households earn a median of $17,670 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Grambling? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Grambling; the closest available measure is the Louisiana state average, a cost of living index of 88.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Louisiana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Grambling, LA? +

The median home value in Grambling is $176,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.