City · Louisiana
Gretna, Louisiana
Gretna, city, in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. Gretna had 17,360 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 17,814 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 17,389 (±31). GEOID 2231915.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
17,360
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 17,814 · ACS 2020-2024: 17,389 ±31
Median household income
$43,110
±$7,162 (90% margin)
Louisiana: $60,756
Median home value
$257,400
±$25,428 (90% margin)
Louisiana: $216,500
Median gross rent
$1,060
±$58 (90% margin)
Louisiana: $1,064
Where is Gretna and what county is it in?
Gretna is a city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. It covers 4.0 square miles of land, 4,414 residents per square mile in 2020.
Gretna is in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Gretna, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 17,360 people lived in Gretna on July 1, 2025, down 2.5% since 2020, a steeper fall than Louisiana's (−0.9%). The 2020 Census counted 17,814 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 17,389 (±31).
| Measure | Gretna | Jefferson Parish | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,389 ±31 | 430,920 | −385 |
| Households | 7,544 ±480 | 177,003 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.16 ±0.14 | 2.42 | −0.18 |
| Housing units | 8,352 ±477 | 194,418 | no clear change |
Gretna's population since 2000
From 17,423 in 2000 to 17,360 in 2025: down 0.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Gretna as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Gretna?
The median resident of Gretna is 38.3 years old; 22.4% are under 18 and 16.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 38.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 30.0%. 19.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Gretna | Jefferson Parish | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 ±1.8 | 40.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.4% ±2.8 pts | 22.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.4% ±2.3 pts | 18.6% | – |
| Male | 51.0% ±2.8 pts | 48.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 24.5% ±3.9 pts | 18.9% | +8.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 38.0% ±3.5 pts | 47.2% | −6.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 30.0% ±4.2 pts | 25.1% | −5.5 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.7% ±2.2 pts | 4.2% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.8% ±1.0 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 19.4% ±3.6 pts | 14.6% | +5.9 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 26.2% ±4.0 pts | 21.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.8% ±0.8 pts | 5.1% | – |
| With a disability | 17.6% ±3.2 pts | 16.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 18.7% ±3.3 pts | 11.4% | +5.0 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 75.7% ±3.2 pts | 86.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.5% ±3.2 pts | 30.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.3% ±2.2 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 83.9% ±2.7 pts | 89.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Gretna earn?
Half of Gretna's 7,544 households earn less than $43,110 a year (±$7,162), against $65,252 in Jefferson Parish and $60,756 in Louisiana. In 2015-2019 the median was $58,143 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $15,033 after inflation. 26.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Gretna | Jefferson Parish | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $43,110 ±$7,162 | $65,252 | −$15,033 |
| Mean household income | $68,003 ±$7,353 | $92,680 | – |
| Per capita income | $29,607 ±$2,739 | $37,862 | −$6,385 |
| People below the poverty line | 26.9% ±4.3 pts | 16.6% | +9.1 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 29.3% ±9.1 pts | 23.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 21.2% ±5.2 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 90.5% ±2.7 pts | 94.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 80.4% ±4.9 pts | 88.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Gretna?
Owners occupy 48.8% of Gretna's occupied homes and renters 51.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $257,400 by its owner (±$25,428). The median renter pays $1,060 a month including utilities, and 64.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Gretna | Jefferson Parish | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $257,400 ±$25,428 | $251,400 | +$45,967 |
| Median gross rent | $1,060 ±$58 | $1,190 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 64.4% ±7.0 pts | 45.6% | +24.5 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,940 ±$126 | $1,762 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 48.8% ±4.2 pts | 62.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 51.2% ±4.2 pts | 37.4% | – |
| Housing units | 8,352 ±477 | 194,418 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.0% ±1.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.3% ±2.0 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 56.8% ±4.6 pts | 65.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.1% ±1.3 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.8% ±0.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.4% ±2.3 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 16.5% ±4.0 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 16.3% ±4.3 pts | 7.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Gretna building?
Builders took permits for 11 new housing units in Gretna in 2025 (9 in single-family houses), 0.6 per 1,000 residents against 3.1 across Louisiana.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Gretna work and get to work?
75.1% of Gretna's workers drive alone and 7.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.3%.
| Measure | Gretna | Jefferson Parish | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.1% ±3.9 pts | 63.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3% ±2.2 pts | 6.2% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.1% ±4.7 pts | 76.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.0% ±4.0 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.3% ±1.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 0.8% ±0.6 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.9% ±2.6 pts | 8.2% | +5.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.4 min ±2.8 | 24.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Gretna?
7 census tracts lie mostly in Gretna, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $24,896 (Tract 257) to $78,864 (Tract 253).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 259Jefferson Parish | 3,574 | $60,488 |
| Tract 254Jefferson Parish | 3,961 | $32,233 |
| Tract 255Jefferson Parish | 3,112 | $28,451 |
| Tract 253Jefferson Parish | 2,118 | $78,864 |
| Tract 256Jefferson Parish | 1,535 | $64,914 |
| Tract 258Jefferson Parish | 1,438 | $29,635 |
| Tract 257Jefferson Parish | 1,374 | $24,896 |
| Tract 251.02Jefferson Parish | 4,854 | $67,336 |
| Tract 252.01Jefferson Parish | 2,890 | $36,900 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Gretna) · Census block assignment files
How does Gretna compare with other places in Louisiana?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Gretna is the 2,171st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 19th-most populous of 304 in Louisiana.
Gretna ranks 176th of 251 places in Louisiana with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 19th | 304 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 72nd | 156 |
| Residents per square mile | 8th | 263 |
| Median household income | 176th | 251 |
| Per capita income | 136th | 263 |
| Median home value | 36th | 247 |
| Median gross rent | 83rd | 229 |
| Poverty rate | 76th | 216 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 72nd | 229 |
| Median age | 124th | 262 |
| Owner-occupied share | 229th | 260 |
| Work from home | 47th | 87 |
| Travel time to work | 119th | 260 |
Gretna's figures with every place in Louisiana (CSV)
Every place in Louisiana, sortable · Compare Gretna with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Gretna?
6 of the 57 figures for Gretna on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Gretna are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Gretna.