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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Opelousas

Louisiana · 22,860 residents · 9.67 sq mi
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The short version

With 22,860 people, Opelousas is a city in Louisiana. 43.1% of people here live below the federal poverty line. Households here earn about 55% less than in Louisiana as a whole. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 11% of adults. The median household earns $14,717, about 65% below the national median. The typical home is worth $50,600.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 33.8
US median: 35.2
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

22,860
+26%since 1990
from 18,151 in 1990
1990 – 2025
33.8
+5%since 1990
from 32.0 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
9.67 sq mi
Population, 19902024
15K17K19K21K24K19902000201020202024Opelousas
202415K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 58.6%(1,958)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 98.2%(1,868)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148.4%(1,911)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 198.2%(1,874)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 246.4%(1,458)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.8%(2,692)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4413.1%(3,003)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5411%(2,514)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 648.6%(1,962)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 747.8%(1,785)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 845.7%(1,302)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2.3%(533)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$14,717
−5%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $11,809 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$9,957
+28%since 1990
from $7,790 in 1990
US average: $21,522
43.1%
−2.1 ptssince 1990
from 45.3% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$50,600
−4%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $39,800 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$292
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $223 in 1990
US average: $602
53.3%
−5.5 ptssince 1990
from 58.9% in 1990
46.7% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic38.2%(6,933)
Black60.9%(11,053)
Hispanic / Latino1%(178)
Asian0.4%(76)
2000
White, non-Hispanic29.1%(6,642)
Black68.8%(15,729)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(202)
Asian0.3%(72)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.2%(179)
Dominican0.6%(98)
Panamanian0.6%(91)
Cuban0.1%(8)
Asian origin
Ancestry
French6.3%(971)
Italian2.5%(393)
German1.9%(289)
American1.8%(279)
English1.8%(277)
Irish1.1%(173)
West Indian0.2%(30)
Haitian0.2%(30)
Scottish0.2%(24)
Arab0.1%(11)
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data
Lebanese0.1%(11)
Syrian0.1%(11)
Swiss0%(4)
Section 05

Education

10.8%
−2.2 ptssince 1990
from 12.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
57.2%
+2.3 ptssince 1990
from 54.9% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
4.1%
−0.4 ptssince 1990
from 4.5% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

15.2 min
−19%since 1990
from 18.8 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married35.2%(2,654)
Married49.6%(3,732)
Widowed5.5%(415)
Divorced9.7%(730)
Women 15+
Never married31.5%(3,077)
Married39.4%(3,856)
Widowed17.6%(1,721)
Divorced11.5%(1,126)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

7.1%
−11.7 ptssince 2013
from 18.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
34.0%
−13.5 ptssince 2020
from 47.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
13.7%
+5.7 ptssince 2020
from 8.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
21.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 21.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
49.9%
+16.2 ptssince 2020
from 33.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 1.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
40.8%
−11.1 ptssince 2020
from 51.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
62.8%
+11.2 ptssince 2020
from 51.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)35.5%(148)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)21.1%(88)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era24%(100)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War10.3%(43)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.2%(5)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 417 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Opelousas, Louisiana?

Opelousas, Louisiana has about 22,860 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Opelousas, Louisiana?

The typical household in Opelousas, Louisiana earns about $14,717 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Opelousas, Louisiana expensive?

In Opelousas, Louisiana, the median home is worth about $50,600, and the typical rent is about $292 a month.

How educated are people in Opelousas, Louisiana?

About 10.8% of adults age 25 and over in Opelousas, Louisiana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Opelousas, Louisiana?

About 43.1% of people in Opelousas, Louisiana live below the federal poverty line.

Has Opelousas, Louisiana grown since 1990?

Yes, Opelousas, Louisiana has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,709 residents, a change of about 26 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →