CensusEasy
CITY

Central

Louisiana · 30,313 residents (2025 est.) · 62.257 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Baton Rouge metro area
Compare
The short version

Central has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $89,554. Population has held roughly steady since 2023. Median home value is $288,700. Poverty is rare here, at 5.4% of residents. Households here earn about 47% more than the Louisiana median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.4
US median: 38.9
Average education
35% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
29,783
+1%since 2023
from 29,603 in 2023
2009 – 2025
Population density
478 / sq mi
+1%since 2023
from 475 / sq mi in 2023
US average: 281
Median age
40.4
Unchangedsince 2023
from 40.3 in 2023
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:30,313 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 2009 – 2024
27K27K28K29K30K200920202024Central
202430K
200920202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$89,554
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2023
from $90,091 in 2023
US average: $82,259
2009 – 2024
Per capita income
$43,056
+1%since 2023
from $42,619 in 2023
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
58.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2023
from 57.0% in 2023
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2023
from 5.7% in 2023
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.409
+1%since 2023
from 0.405 in 2023
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade10.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade9.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Information8.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration6%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services2.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$288,700
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2023
from $270,700 in 2023
US average: $376,019
2009 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,309
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2023
from $1,373 in 2023
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
88.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2023
from 89.3% in 2023
11.2% rent
Vacancy rate
7.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2023
from 6.7% in 2023
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2023
from 21.7% in 2023
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
53.9%
+2.6 ptssince 2023
from 51.3% in 2023
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+7%since 2023
from 3.0 in 2023
2009 – 2024
Gentrification Score
63
RELATED:See current rent listings in Central on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2023
White, non-Hispanic78.3%(23,184)
Black11.6%(3,435)
Hispanic / Latino4.8%(1,410)
Asian0.4%(114)
Other4.9%(1,460)
Diversity Score46.1%(13,635)
2024
White, non-Hispanic79.1%(23,558)
Black9.8%(2,915)
Hispanic / Latino5.6%(1,660)
Asian0.4%(117)
Other5.1%(1,533)
Diversity Score44.9%(13,365)
Diversity Score
45
−3%since 2023
from 46 in 2023
2009 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
35.3%
+2.6 ptssince 2023
from 32.7% in 2023
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2023
from 96.1% in 2023
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2023
from 10.9% in 2023
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.0 min
+1%since 2023
from 28.6 min in 2023
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.4%
−3.0 ptssince 2023
from 85.3% in 2023
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2023
from 5.5% in 2023
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2023
from 0.0% in 2023
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2023
from 6.8% in 2023
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2023
from 1.1% in 2023
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2023
from 0.0% in 2023
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2023
from 2.0% in 2023
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2023
from 1.2% in 2023
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2023
from 62.2% in 2023
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2023
from 14.7% in 2023
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
47.9%
+5.6 ptssince 2023
from 42.2% in 2023
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2023
from 48.5% in 2023
Female
51.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2023
from 51.5% in 2023
Foreign born
1.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2023
from 2.1% in 2023
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2023
from 7.1% in 2023
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2023
from 12.7% in 2023
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2023
from 7.4% in 2023
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.4%
+1.4 ptssince 2023
from 94.0% in 2023
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2023
from 96.4% in 2023
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2023
from 2.1% in 2023
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Central

West Melbourne
Pop 31,285
Citrus Park
Pop 28,804
Rockledge
Pop 31,343
New Smyrna Beach
Pop 33,182
Places similar to Central
Head to head

Compare Central to nearby cities

CENTRAL VS
Merrydale
Income$41,500−54%
Home value$136,100−53%
Population9,490−69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRAL VS
Denham Springs
Income$71,569−20%
Home value$188,200−35%
Population9,378−69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRAL VS
Baker
Income$54,750−39%
Home value$157,900−45%
Population12,136−60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CENTRAL VS
Baton Rouge
Income$49,994−44%
Home value$234,700−19%
Population222,795+635%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Central, Louisiana?

Central, Louisiana has about 29,783 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Central, Louisiana?

The typical household in Central, Louisiana earns about $89,554 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Central, Louisiana expensive?

In Central, Louisiana, the median home is worth about $288,700, and the typical rent is about $1,309 a month.

How educated are people in Central, Louisiana?

About 35.3% of adults age 25 and over in Central, Louisiana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Central, Louisiana?

About 5.4% of people in Central, Louisiana live below the federal poverty line.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Louisiana
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Central with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →