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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2020 ACS

Opelousas Micro

Opelousas, LA · 1 counties · 82,540 residents · 924 sq mi
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The short version

Opelousas is home to 82,540 people. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 15% of adults. 24.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. The foreign-born share is 1%. The typical home is worth $122,900, having more than doubled since 2000. Median rent is $621 a month.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 52%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

82,540
−6%since 2000
from 87,700 in 2000
1990 – 2025
89 / sq mi
−6%since 2000
from 95 / sq mi in 2000
39.6
+14%since 2000
from 34.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
924 sq mi
Population, 19902024
79K82K86K89K92K19902000201020202024Opelousas
202482K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.3%(5,168)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97%(5,755)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 147.5%(6,209)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.9%(5,735)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.6%(4,637)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.1%(9,154)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.6%(9,573)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.6%(9,564)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.4%(11,863)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7410.8%(8,887)
US avg: 10%
75 to 845.3%(4,347)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2%(1,648)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$40,859
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,855 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$21,416
+78%since 2000
from $12,042 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
25.5%
+8.5 ptssince 2009
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
24.8%
−4.5 ptssince 2000
from 29.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information13%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade9%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade7.8%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance6.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Other services4.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Manufacturing3.2%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Construction2%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$122,900
+52%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$621
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $320 in 2000
US average: $1,124
69.7%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 70.7% in 2000
30.3% rent
2.68 people
−3%since 2009
from 2.76 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
3.0
+3%since 2009
from 2.9 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-Hispanic56.1%(49,160)
Black41.9%(36,762)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(794)
Asian0.2%(177)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic52.4%(43,225)
Black41.5%(34,218)
Hispanic / Latino2.6%(2,178)
Asian0.5%(374)
Other1.7%(1,403)
41
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican0.9%(731)
Cuban0.3%(248)
Panamanian0.2%(155)
Honduran0.1%(100)
Spaniard0.1%(66)
Puerto Rican0.1%(56)
Chilean0.1%(51)
Colombian0%(31)
Peruvian0%(27)
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data
Asian origin
Chinese0%(2)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
French Canadian18.7%(15,513)
French9.6%(7,952)
American4.5%(3,700)
German3%(2,521)
English2.3%(1,896)
Irish1.7%(1,390)
Italian1.4%(1,158)
West Indian0.2%(176)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(151)
Dutch0.2%(133)
Lebanese0.1%(124)
+ 20 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.1%(107)
Canadian0.1%(103)
Haitian0.1%(97)
Ukrainian0.1%(92)
Jamaican0.1%(79)
Swedish0.1%(54)
Belgian0%(39)
Norwegian0%(23)
Swiss0%(18)
Syrian0%(17)
Czech0%(16)
Polish0%(10)
Russian0%(9)
Turkish0%(9)
British0%(7)
Finnish0%(7)
Danish0%(5)
Welsh0%(3)
Section 05

Education

15.1%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
76.7%
+14.6 ptssince 2000
from 62.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
5.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

27.4 min
+39%since 2000
from 19.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
85.8%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 83.4% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
9.0%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

5.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 6.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
52.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2011
from 53.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
62.3%
US average: 73.3%
29.0%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

48.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
51.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
0.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
8.8%
−6.7 ptssince 2013
from 15.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
79.0%
US average: 91.9%
89.5%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married42.9%(13,093)
Married44.4%(13,557)
Widowed4.2%(1,274)
Divorced8.6%(2,621)
Women 15+
Never married36.5%(12,121)
Married40.9%(13,576)
Widowed11.2%(3,726)
Divorced11.3%(3,754)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

8.8%
−6.7 ptssince 2013
from 15.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
51.7%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
8.1%
US average: 13.7%
19.7%
US average: 17.6%
27.9%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
1.3%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
58.1%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
44.1%
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)11.1%(368)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)18.8%(620)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era41.9%(1,385)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War5.7%(189)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.5%(81)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 3,306 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, LA?

Opelousas, LA has about 82,540 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Opelousas, LA?

The typical household in Opelousas, LA earns about $40,859 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 $122,900, and the typical rent is about $621 a month.

How educated are people in Opelousas, LA?

About 15.1% 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 24.8% 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 2,209 residents, a change of about 3 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 →