City profile · Louisiana · Census ACS 2023

Oil City, LA

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

941
Residents
$17,381
Median income
$55,600
Median home
$1,111
Median rent (state)

Oil City - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Oil City lands in the 0th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

0th
percentile, household income
1st
percentile, home value
30th
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: Oil City, LA

941 people live in Oil City, Louisiana - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Oil City brings in $17,381 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 62.7%. Oil City's housing stock carries a median value of $55,600, and the median resident age is 28.5 years. 1.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 50.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,111 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Louisiana run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 92.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

941 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Louisiana

Median Household Income

$17,381 /yr

Poverty 62.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Louisiana average

How does Oil City compare to other US cities?

Where Oil City sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 0% higher than other cities
Home value 1% pricier than other cities
Median rent 30% 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 Oil City 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 Oil City's strongest outlier among Louisiana cities

Among the 475 Louisiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Oil City ranks #10 - the 98th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Oil City only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#418 of 426
2nd percentile in Louisiana
Median Gross Rent
#130 of 477
68th percentile in Louisiana
Median Home Value
#403 of 419
4th percentile in Louisiana
Poverty Rate
#10 of 475
98th percentile in Louisiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#458 of 477
4th 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 Oil City's home value compares nationally

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

$55,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 99% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Oil City $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 - Oil City, LA Oil City, LA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Oil City, 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 Oil City, LA median $17,381/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%
Oil City, 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 Oil City, LA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 1.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 62.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.0%

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

Population
941
Median Income
$17,381
Median Home Value
$55,600
Median Age
28.5
Poverty Rate
62.7%
Labor force participation
50.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
1.6%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
860 residents870 residents880 residents890 residents900 residents 202020212022202320242025 896 residents 874 residents ▼ -2.5%
Oil City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
56.2%
Carpool
6.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
22.1%
Work from Home
4.2%
Other
11.2%

Based on 331 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 Oil City sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,111/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
92.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Louisiana

Start
941 people
Grand Coteau
948 people
Merryville
956 people
Dubach
917 people
Egan
966 people
Albany
969 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Oil City's 941 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Odin, IL
941 people
Union Bridge, MD
941 people
Jonestown, MS
941 people
Northwood, ND
941 people
Eureka, UT
941 people
Whitecone, AZ
942 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Oil City's $17,381 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lincoln Heights, OH
$17,333 median income
Prestonville, KY
$17,315 median income
Playa Fortuna comunidad, PR
$17,452 median income
Playita comunidad (Yabucoa Municipio), PR
$17,282 median income
Iron, TN
$17,500 median income
Anon Raices comunidad, PR
$17,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Oil City, 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 Oil City, LA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 34.4% 45.1% 19.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.9% White 34.4% Black or African American 45.1% Asian 1.2% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 19.1% 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 Oil City 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
Oil City (this city) 941 $17,381
Start 941 $67,673
Grand Coteau 948 $48,036
Merryville 956 $26,554
Census ACS 5-year FIPS LA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Oil City, LA?

What is the population of Oil City, LA? +

941 people live in Oil City, LA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Oil City, LA? +

Median annual household income in Oil City runs $17,381, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Oil City? +

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

Homes in Oil City carry a median value of $55,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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