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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Opelousas Micro

Opelousas, LA · 1 counties · 80,765 residents (2025 est.) · 924.029 sq mi
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The short version

Opelousas has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $44,462. Population has declined 7% since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $142,500. The poverty rate of 26.8% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 45%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
81,670
−7%since 2000
from 87,700 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
88 / sq mi
−7%since 2000
from 95 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.8
+9%since 2000
from 34.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:80,765 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
79K82K86K89K92K1990201020202024Opelousas
202482K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,462
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,855 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,412
+111%since 2000
from $12,042 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
29.3%
+12.3 ptssince 2009
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
26.8%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 29.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.494
−1%since 2010
from 0.498 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade7.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance6.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Manufacturing3.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Other services3.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction1.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$142,500
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$748
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $320 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 70.7% in 2000
29.9% rent
Vacancy rate
13.6%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 23.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 41.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+36%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
25
RELATED:See current rent listings in Opelousas on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic56.1%(49,160)
Black41.9%(36,762)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(794)
Asian0.2%(177)
Other0%
Diversity Score62.6%(54,905)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic52.1%(42,539)
Black39.7%(32,454)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(2,510)
Asian0.6%(473)
Other4.5%(3,694)
Diversity Score71%(57,962)
Segregation Score38.2%(31,198)
Diversity Score
71
+13%since 2000
from 63 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
38
−7%since 2020
from 41 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.9%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.4%
+19.4 ptssince 2000
from 62.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.1%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.8 min
+52%since 2000
from 19.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.1%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 83.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.3%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.9%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2011
from 6.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2011
from 53.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.2%
−30.9 ptssince 2009
from 58.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.6%
−42.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.2%
+2.0 ptssince 2012
from 14.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.2%
−77.3 ptssince 2013
from 84.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
74.3%
+11.6 ptssince 2017
from 62.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 91.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.3%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

OpelousasCENTRAL15,098
What's inside

1 component county

St. Landry ParishCENTRAL80,765
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Opelousas

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Pop 68,119
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Pop 74,085
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Pop 83,842
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Head to head

Compare Opelousas side by side

OPELOUSAS VS
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Income$47,668+7%
Home value$78,700−45%
Population68,119−16%
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OPELOUSAS VS
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Home value$136,095−4%
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OPELOUSAS VS
Fort Payne
Income$51,204+15%
Home value$152,700+7%
Population74,085−8%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
OPELOUSAS VS
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Income$52,324+18%
Home value$226,900+59%
Population83,842+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Opelousas, LA?

Opelousas, LA has about 81,670 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Opelousas, LA?

The typical household in Opelousas, LA earns about $44,462 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Opelousas, LA expensive?

In Opelousas, LA, the median home is worth about $142,500, and the typical rent is about $748 a month.

How educated are people in Opelousas, LA?

About 14.9% of adults age 25 and over in Opelousas, LA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Opelousas, LA?

About 26.8% of people in Opelousas, LA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Opelousas, LA grown since 1990?

Yes, Opelousas, LA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,339 residents, a change of about 2 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →