County · Louisiana
Ouachita Parish, Louisiana
Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. Ouachita Parish had 158,542 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.1% since 2020, in line with Louisiana (−0.9%). It holds 10 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs and 6 census-designated) and 47 census tracts. GEOID 22073.
Ouachita Parish is one of the 4 counties of the Monroe, LA metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
158,542
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 160,368 · ACS 2020-2024: 158,480
Median household income
$54,688
±$2,311 (90% margin)
Louisiana: $60,756
Median home value
$194,400
±$8,085 (90% margin)
Louisiana: $216,500
Median gross rent
$959
±$28 (90% margin)
Louisiana: $1,064
How many people live in Ouachita Parish, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 160,368 residents in Ouachita Parish. The Census Bureau estimates 158,542 for July 1, 2025, down 1.1% since 2020, in line with Louisiana (−0.9%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 158,480 over 610 square miles of land.
| Measure | Ouachita Parish | Louisiana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 158,480 | 4,611,961 | +2,986 |
| Households | 61,489±770 | 1,804,780 | +4,933 |
| Average household size | 2.50±0.03 | 2.49 | −0.13 |
| Housing units | 71,172±77 | 2,108,902 | +2,815 |
Ouachita Parish's population since 2000
From 147,250 in 2000 to 158,542 in 2025: up 7.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Ouachita Parish?
Ouachita Parish holds 10 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 6 census-designated places. The largest is Monroe with 46,860 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Monroe | 47,702 | $40,505 |
|---|---|---|
| West Monroe | 13,103 | $49,386 |
| Claiborne | 12,631 | $72,420 |
| Swartz | 4,354 | $67,287 |
| Brownsville | 4,353 | $35,526 |
| Richwood | 3,881 | $31,680 |
| Bawcomville | 3,472 | $24,929 |
| Lakeshore | 1,988 | $48,214 |
| Sterlington | 1,980 | $69,007 |
| CalhounGEOID 2211825 | 670 | $138,372 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Ouachita Parish?
The median resident of Ouachita Parish is 36.6 years old; 24.6% are under 18 and 15.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 55.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 37.2%. 2.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Ouachita Parish | Louisiana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6±0.2 | 38.0 | +0.9 |
| Under 18 years | 24.6% | 23.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.8%±0.1 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.7% | 7.2% | +1.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 55.3%±0.4 pts | 55.7% | −2.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 37.2%±0.4 pts | 30.5% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±0.1 pts | 1.7% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.3%±0.5 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.2%±0.3 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.0%±0.5 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.3%±0.7 pts | 6.1% | – |
| With a disability | 15.3%±0.7 pts | 16.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.4%±1.1 pts | 7.8% | −2.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.4%±0.9 pts | 87.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 28.6%±1.3 pts | 27.0% | +4.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.2%±0.8 pts | 10.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.8%±0.6 pts | 1.6% | – |
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 Ouachita Parish earn?
Half of Ouachita Parish's 61,489 households earn less than $54,688 a year (±$2,311), against $60,756 in Louisiana. In 2015-2019 the median was $50,607 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $4,081 after inflation. 23.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ouachita Parish | Louisiana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,688±$2,311 | $60,756 | +$4,081 |
| Mean household income | $80,881±$3,418 | $87,038 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,520±$1,220 | $35,038 | +$2,539 |
| People below the poverty line | 23.2%±1.5 pts | 18.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 31.3%±3.1 pts | 25.4% | −5.4 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 19.8%±1.3 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 83.4%±1.5 pts | 86.6% | – |
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 Ouachita Parish?
Owners occupy 61.0% of Ouachita Parish's occupied homes and renters 39.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $194,400 by its owner (±$8,085). The median renter pays $959 a month including utilities, and 50.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Ouachita Parish | Louisiana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $194,400±$8,085 | $216,500 | +$13,857 |
| Median gross rent | $959±$28 | $1,064 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 50.1%±3.2 pts | 46.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,458±$43 | $1,604 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 61.0%±1.6 pts | 67.4% | +2.6 pts |
| Housing units | 71,172±77 | 2,108,902 | +2,815 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.4%±0.7 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 9.3%±1.8 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 66.7%±1.5 pts | 65.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 14.4%±1.1 pts | 12.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.6%±0.4 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.5%±0.5 pts | 6.1% | – |
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 Ouachita Parish building?
Builders took permits for 392 new housing units across Ouachita Parish in 2025 (382 single-family), 2.5 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Ouachita Parish get to work?
78.4% of Ouachita Parish's workers drive alone and 8.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 22.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.5%.
| Measure | Ouachita Parish | Louisiana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 59.9%±1.1 pts | 59.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.5%±0.8 pts | 6.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.4%±1.7 pts | 78.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.7%±1.1 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.8%±0.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 1.5%±0.4 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.3%±1.0 pts | 8.1% | +5.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.1 min±0.9 | 25.7 min | +1.6 min |
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 are Ouachita Parish's census tracts?
Ouachita Parish is divided into 47 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $15,461 (Tract 108) to $99,909 (Tract 2).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Ouachita Parish compare with Louisiana's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 8th of 64 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 22nd of 64 |
| Residents per square mile | 8th of 64 |
| Median household income | 32nd of 64 |
| Median home value | 20th of 64 |
| Median gross rent | 21st of 64 |
| Poverty rate | 24th of 64 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8th of 64 |
| Median age | 52nd of 64 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Ouachita Parish 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' school search.