Desire is home to 2,479 people in New Orleans. The poverty rate is 47.2%, above the 12.5% national rate. Owners hold 31% of the housing stock. This skews young, with a median age of 30.7. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 18% of adults. That trails the New Orleans median by roughly 51%. These figures are approximated by combining the 2 census tracts that make up Desire; the Census Bureau does not tabulate data for neighborhoods directly.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 30.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Renter-heavy
31% owner-occupied
US average: 65%
Section 01
Population & growth
Total population
2,479
Population density
1,277 / sq mi
US average: 281
Median age
30.7
US average: 38.9
Land area
1.94 sq mi
Section 02
Income & economy
Median household income
$27,602
US average: $82,259
Per capita income
$18,956
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
11.0%
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
47.2%
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.433
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Finance & insurance17.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical15.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Information11.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.9%
Retail trade1.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services1%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Wholesale trade0%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03
Housing
Median home value
$151,400
US average: $376,019
Median gross rent
$745
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
31.3%
68.7% rent
Vacancy rate
25.2%
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.77 people
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
6.0%
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.5%
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.5
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
2024
White, non-Hispanic1.5%(36)
Black97.3%(2,412)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(18)
Asian0.3%(8)
Other0.2%(5)
2024
White, non-Hispanic1.5%(36)
Black97.3%(2,412)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(18)
Asian0.3%(8)
Other0.2%(5)
Diversity Score
7
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
