CensusEasy
CITY · 2020 ACS

Opelousas

Louisiana · 15,786 residents · 9.67 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Opelousas is a city of 15,786 people in Louisiana. 35.9% of people here live below the federal poverty line. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 17% of adults. 46% of homes are owner-occupied. That trails the Louisiana median by roughly 36%. The foreign-born share is 0%.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 36.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 62%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

15,786
−31%since 2000
from 22,860 in 2000
1990 – 2025
36.4
+8%since 2000
from 33.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
9.67 sq mi
Population, 19902024
15K17K19K21K24K19902000201020202024Opelousas
202415K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.9%(1,082)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.3%(1,158)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 148.1%(1,280)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 197.3%(1,157)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.6%(1,038)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412%(1,889)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.6%(1,831)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410.6%(1,677)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6412.9%(2,031)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 749.5%(1,507)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.7%(742)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.5%(394)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$32,666
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $14,717 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$19,497
+96%since 2000
from $9,957 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
21.3%
+11.4 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
35.9%
−7.2 ptssince 2000
from 43.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information16.7%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade6.4%
US avg: 10%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance4.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade3.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.7%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.5%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 2%
Construction0.2%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$123,100
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$597
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $292 in 2000
US average: $1,124
46.0%
−7.3 ptssince 2000
from 53.3% in 2000
54.0% rent
2.44 people
−10%since 2009
from 2.71 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
3.8
−17%since 2009
from 4.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic29.1%(6,642)
Black68.8%(15,729)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(202)
Asian0.3%(72)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic17.7%(2,799)
Black77.2%(12,183)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(257)
Asian0.7%(116)
Other1.7%(265)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican0.3%(54)
Chilean0.3%(51)
Mexican0.2%(30)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
French Canadian6.3%(1,055)
French4.3%(715)
German2.2%(365)
American2%(342)
English1.2%(204)
West Indian0.6%(97)
Haitian0.6%(97)
Irish0.6%(95)
Italian0.5%(88)
Portuguese0.1%(10)
Swiss0.1%(10)
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data
Section 05

Education

17.1%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
73.0%
+15.8 ptssince 2000
from 57.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
9.1%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

22.0 min
+45%since 2000
from 15.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
83.4%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 79.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
17.7%
−7.0 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

8.4%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 11.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
46.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2011
from 44.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
67.3%
US average: 73.3%
30.4%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 25.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

46.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 44.2% in 2009
54.0%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 55.8% in 2009
0.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
7.9%
−10.9 ptssince 2013
from 18.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
73.5%
US average: 91.9%
85.1%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married55.5%(2,945)
Married30.8%(1,633)
Widowed4.3%(229)
Divorced9.5%(502)
Women 15+
Never married49.6%(3,393)
Married25.3%(1,733)
Widowed13.8%(943)
Divorced11.3%(777)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

7.9%
−10.9 ptssince 2013
from 18.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
47.5%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
8.0%
US average: 13.7%
21.6%
US average: 17.6%
33.7%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
1.2%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
51.9%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
51.6%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)4.5%(23)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)20.9%(106)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era42.7%(217)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War9.8%(50)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II7.3%(37)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 508 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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Opelousas

Head to head

Compare Opelousas to nearby cities

Frequently asked

How many people live in Opelousas, Louisiana?

Opelousas, Louisiana has about 15,786 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Opelousas, Louisiana?

The typical household in Opelousas, Louisiana earns about $32,666 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 $123,100, and the typical rent is about $597 a month.

How educated are people in Opelousas, Louisiana?

About 17.1% 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 35.9% of people in Opelousas, Louisiana live below the federal poverty line.

Has Opelousas, Louisiana grown since 1990?

Yes, Opelousas, Louisiana has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,365 residents, a change of about -13 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

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

How we source and harmonize this data →