City profile · Louisiana · Census ACS 2023

Gray, LA

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

5,524
Residents
$57,472
Median income
$155,200
Median home
$921
Median rent (state)

Gray - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Gray lands in the 31st percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

31st
percentile, household income
28th
percentile, home value
7th
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: Gray, LA

Gray is a small town in Louisiana, home to 5,524 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Gray households earn a median of $57,472 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.9%. Home values in Gray run a median of $155,200, and the median resident age is 39.8 years. Educational attainment runs 14.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 55.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Louisiana run below the national norm: the state registers 88.2 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $921 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Louisiana's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 71.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

5,524 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Louisiana

Median Household Income

$57,472 /yr

Poverty 8.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Louisiana average

How does Gray compare to other US cities?

Here's how Gray stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 31% higher than other cities
Home value 28% pricier than other cities
Median rent 7% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Gray's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Louisiana, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

31stIncome percentile

31st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Gray's home value compares nationally

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

$155,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 72% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Gray $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 - Gray, LA Gray, LA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Gray, 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 Gray, LA median $57,472/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%
Gray, 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 Gray, LA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.5%

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

Population
5,524
Median Income
$57,472
Median Home Value
$155,200
Median Age
39.8
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Labor force participation
55.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.1%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.8%
Carpool
9.6%
Public Transit
1.3%
Walk
2.8%
Work from Home
3.5%

Based on 2,392 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 Gray sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$921/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
71.0 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Louisiana

Leesville
5,610 people
St. Martinville
5,367 people
Grambling
5,302 people
Chackbay
5,287 people
Brownfields
5,263 people
Patterson
5,801 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Gray's 5,524 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Silver Springs, NV
5,523 people
Berlin, WI
5,523 people
Noroton, CT
5,522 people
White Hall, AR
5,520 people
Spencer, MA
5,520 people
New Castle, DE
5,519 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Gray's $57,472 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Fredericksburg, TX
$57,474 median income
Citrus Springs, FL
$57,477 median income
Watervliet, MI
$57,477 median income
Sugar Creek, MO
$57,467 median income
Gallup, NM
$57,466 median income
Chicago Heights, IL
$57,479 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Gray, 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 Gray, LA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 52.3% 40.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.4% White 52.3% Black or African American 40.5% Asian 1.4% American Indian 2.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.4% Two or more races 2.0% 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 Gray 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
Gray (this city) 5,524 $57,472
Leesville 5,610 $38,292
St. Martinville 5,367 $33,132
Grambling 5,302 $17,670
Census ACS 5-year FIPS LA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Gray, LA?

What is the population of Gray, LA? +

The population of Gray, LA stands at 5,524 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Gray, the typical household earns $57,472 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Gray? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Gray; 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 Gray, LA? +

Gray's median home value sits at $155,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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 Editorial

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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.