The good times are scheduled to roll again later this month when Mardi Gras begins on Feb. 17. The Big Easy, however, is a case study for how natural disasters can reshape New Orleans demographics over years or even decades.
In mid-2005, New Orleans had an estimated 450,000 residents. After Hurricane Katrina inundated the metro area, New Orleans demographics shifted dramatically as the population fell to 223,400. Two decades later, a Social Explorer analysis finds that number remains around 362,700.
It's not possible to quantify how the 2005 storm affected the psyche of one of the nation's most unique and beloved cities. There is still Bourbon Street, there is still jazz, excellent Cajun cuisine, and beignets. But a review of the 2006 and 2024 American Community Survey releases reveals how New Orleans demographics have gained, lost, and kept ground.
Key Changes in New Orleans Demographics
Racial and Ethnic Composition
New Orleans demographics show significant shifts in racial and ethnic makeup. The 2024 American Community Survey found the percentage of Black residents had fallen to 53.3 percent; the white population also fell to 30.2 percent. The differences were offset by a doubling of the Hispanic population to almost 9 percent, and a more than six-fold increase in multiracial residents, who now make up about 4 percent of New Orleans residents.
Household and Family Structure
Mirroring a national trend, New Orleans demographics reveal fewer families – both married and unmarried – in the city. In 2006, families made up 54.6 percent of households; married couples accounted for 33.5 percent. By 2024, the percentage of family households had fallen to 48.3 percent, and the figure for married couples had fallen to 28.3 percent.
The number of single fathers rose from 4 percent to 4.5 percent; the figure for single mothers fell from 17 percent to 13.4 percent. The percentage of households consisting of a single person – living alone – climbed from 37.8 percent to 44.7 percent.
Perhaps going hand-in-hand with the declining number of married couple households, New Orleans demographics show the percentage of the population younger than 18 fell from 22.3 percent in 2006 to 19.5 percent in 2024.
Multigenerational Living
Multigenerational households have become more common in New Orleans. In 2006, grandparents who were responsible for their grandchildren – even though at least one parent lived in the household – made up 23.2 percent of households with three generations. That figure more than doubled in 2024 to 52.8 percent of households.
The percentage of households with grandparents who were responsible for their grandchildren in the absence of a parent climbed slightly, from 22.7 percent in 2006 to 24.6 percent in 2024.
Economic Indicators in New Orleans Demographics
In 2006, the median household income of $35,859 was 74 percent of the U.S. median of $48,451. By 2024, the gap had grown slightly. The median household income in New Orleans had risen to $58,821, about 72 percent of the national median of $81,604.
Education and Poverty
Still, New Orleans demographics reveal good news on the economic front. The percentage of residents without a high school degree has fallen by more than half since 2006, dropping from 18.9 percent to 9.3 percent. The number of people with bachelor's degrees has risen, from 31.7 percent to 43.3 percent.
The increase in educational attainment has likely spilled over into other socioeconomic factors affecting New Orleans demographics. Poverty has fallen, from 22.2 percent of the population in 2006 to 20.5 percent in 2024. The percentage of households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, has fallen from 27.5 percent of households to 15.9 percent. And even homeownership rates have climbed slightly, rising from 50.7 percent of households to 52.8 percent.
Housing Trends
When it comes to housing – a major subject of contention across the country – New Orleans demographics show the city has rebuilt its housing stock at a decent rate over the last two decades. In 2006, about 105,600 housing units were left standing; by 2024, the Census Bureau counted 196,900 homes. Over the same period, the number of housing units in the United States only rose from 126.3 million to 146.7 million.
By some measures, housing in New Orleans also has become less expensive. In 2006, only 9.3 percent of households paid between 25 percent and 30 percent of their monthly income for rent. By 2024, that figure had risen to 10.6 percent. Conversely, the percentage of households paying more than 50 percent of their monthly income for rent dipped from 30.7 percent to 30.2 percent. Overall, the rent burden of the typical New Orleans household fell from 39.3 percent of monthly income in 2006 to 35 percent in 2024.
Homeowners also benefited. The percentage of homeowners who spent less than 30 percent of their income on housing costs rose from 50.9 percent in 2006 to 56.4 percent in 2024. The percentage of homeowners spending more than 50 percent of their monthly earnings on housing fell from 21.3 percent to 20.2 percent over the same period. Among households with a mortgage in 2024, the typical owner paid 26.9 percent of monthly income for housing, a decline from the 2006 figure of 29.2 percent.
Understanding New Orleans Demographics Today
To summarize: In many respects, New Orleans hasn't changed much since the 2005 superstorm almost erased it from the map. The city's spirit is still alive and well. A demographic analysis, however, reveals a mixed bag, with progress in key elements such as education and housing costs but with stagnation in income and household formation.
New Orleans demographics continue to evolve in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Social Explorer's easy-to-use mapping software can provide more insights about how New Orleans demographics – and other places in the United States – have changed, over the past year, decade, or century.
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