Orleans Parish, Louisiana: commercial real estate data.
Orleans Parish, Louisiana had an estimated 362,701 residents on July 1, 2024, down 5.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 384,130, across 169 square miles. County output reached $30.84 bn in 2024, 10,027 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 316 7(a) approvals worth $173.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Orleans Parish
How many people live in Orleans Parish
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024371,853
- Households155,821
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$56,631
- Median age38.8
- Median gross rent$1,251 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$315,700
- Home value to household income5.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income26.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher42.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree19.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over265,201
- Population under 1873,203
- Share under 1819.7 percent
- Population 65 and over63,917
- Share 65 and over17.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64234,733
- Civilian labor force184,482
- Unemployment rate7.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.8 percent
- Rank by population among Louisiana parishes3rd of 64
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included201st of 3,222
Orleans Parish is the 3rd largest of 64 Louisiana parishes by population. A median home costs 5.6 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 19.7 percent against 17.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Orleans Parish
Is Orleans Parish's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024362,701
- Census 2020 base population384,130
- Population change since the 2020 census base-5.58 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-2,466
- Births, 20243,809
- Deaths, 20243,610
- Natural change, 2024199
- Net domestic migration, 2024-4,950
- Net international migration, 20242,272
- Total net migration, 2024-2,678
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-27,766
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents3022nd of 3,144
The county has lost 5.58 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. More people left than moved in during 2024 and births over deaths did not make up the difference, so the population fell.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Orleans Parish
Where are people moving to Orleans Parish from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving10,080
- People arriving, from those returns15,811
- Tax returns filed by households leaving13,173
- Net household movement-3,093
- Adjusted gross income arriving$719.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-178.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$71,395
- Average income of a leaving household$68,182
- Largest single originJefferson Parish (2,715 households)
- Largest single destinationJefferson Parish (3,289 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Parish | 2,715 | 4,905 | $140.4 m |
| St. Tammany Parish | 516 | 860 | $27.5 m |
| East Baton Rouge Parish | 393 | 564 | $21.3 m |
| Harris County | 284 | 443 | $17.0 m |
| St. Bernard Parish | 283 | 572 | $9.5 m |
| Los Angeles County | 141 | 193 | $11.6 m |
| Cook County | 120 | 155 | $10.8 m |
| St. Charles Parish | 108 | 162 | $5.9 m |
Households arriving report $3,213 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Jefferson Parish, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Orleans Parish
What is the Orleans Parish economy?
- County GDP, 2024$30.84 bn
- County GDP, 2023$29.68 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.9 percent
- GDP change over five years32.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Louisiana areas BEA publishes3rd of 64
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes192nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$82,924
Output grew 3.9 percent in the latest year and 32.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Orleans Parish
Employment by industry in Orleans Parish
- Covered employment, annual average188,050
- Establishments reporting17,204
- Average annual pay$67,626
- Average weekly wage$1,300
- Accommodation and food services, employment36,213
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$35,825
- Health care and social assistance, employment24,943
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$64,606
- Educational services, employment17,598
- Educational services, average annual pay$66,816
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment14,384
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$108,272
- Retail trade, employment13,060
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment10,522
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 36,213 | 2,076 | $35,825 |
| Health care and social assistance | 24,943 | 1,622 | $64,606 |
| Educational services | 17,598 | 420 | $66,816 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 14,384 | 3,638 | $108,272 |
| Retail trade | 13,060 | 1,682 | $37,369 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 10,522 | 1,024 | $55,738 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6,310 | 408 | $66,167 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 5,928 | 447 | $41,565 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 36,213 jobs, 19.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Orleans Parish
How many businesses are in Orleans Parish?
- Establishments, all industries10,027
- Employment at those establishments177,086
- Annual payroll$10.44 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents27.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Orleans Parish
Building permits in Orleans Parish
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024710
- Declared construction value permitted$186.7 m
- Single family units authorized202
- Multifamily units authorized508
- Multifamily share of units71.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$263,014
- Units authorized per 1,000 households4.6
Multifamily is 71.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Orleans Parish
SBA loans in Orleans Parish (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded316
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$173.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$549,426
- Median 7(a) approval$200,000
- 10th percentile approval$43,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,258,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)3,302
- Jobs per approval10.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active51
- Distinct industries receiving approvals136
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer15.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms49
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter230
- Franchise loans31
- Franchise share of approvals9.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (41)
- Most active lenderNewtek Bank, National Association (59)
- 504 approvals recorded35
- 504 gross approval dollars$27.3 m
- Average 504 approval$778,886
- Median 504 approval$588,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval11.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.0
- Most active CDCNew Orleans Regional Business Development Loan Corporation (18)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$200.9 m
The average approval of $549,426 sits well above the median of $200,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 15.5 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Orleans Parish
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Orleans Parish
Do SBA loans in Orleans Parish get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded44
- Paid in full40
- Charged off4
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans9.1 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure210
- Status: Paid in full40
- Status: Cancelled50
- Status: Charged off4
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed12
Of the 44 loans that have reached a final outcome, 9.1 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Orleans Parish
SBA lending by place in Orleans Parish
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- New Orleans, approvals313
- Prosper, approvals1
- Mandeville, approvals1
- Harvey, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 313 | $169,605,200 |
| Prosper | 1 | $3,610,000 |
| Mandeville | 1 | $303,500 |
| Harvey | 1 | $100,000 |
New Orleans accounts for 313 approvals against 1 in Prosper. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Orleans Parish
How large is Orleans Parish?
- Land area169 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Louisiana parishes64th of 64
- Width, east to west31 mi
- Height, north to south22.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land2,200
- Establishments per square mile59.33
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Orleans Parish
Flood risk in Orleans Parish
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book1
- Of those, participating in the NFIP1
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Orleans Parish, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The EPA places Orleans Parish in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Orleans Parish site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Orleans Parish site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024371,853
- Households155,821
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$56,631
- Median age38.8
Common questions
Orleans Parish questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Orleans Parish, Louisiana?
The Census Bureau estimates 362,701 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 371,853, in 155,821 households, ranking 3rd of 64 Louisiana counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Orleans Parish's population growing?
The population has fallen 5.58 percent since the 2020 census base of 384,130, to 362,701 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 3,809 births against 3,610 deaths, with net migration of -2,678. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Orleans Parish?
$56,631. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $315,700, which is 5.6 times income, and median gross rent is $1,251 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Orleans Parish?
10,027 establishments, employing 177,086 people with an annual payroll of $10.44 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Orleans Parish?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 36,213 jobs, 19.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 188,050 jobs at an average annual pay of $67,626, or $1,300 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Orleans Parish?
316 7(a) approvals totaling $173.6 m since FY2020, across 51 lenders, with a median approval of $200,000, plus 35 504 approvals worth $27.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Orleans Parish get paid back?
Of the 44 loans that have reached a final outcome, 40 were paid in full and 4 charged off, a charge-off rate of 9.1 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Orleans Parish?
710 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $186.7 m. Multifamily was 71.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Orleans Parish?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Orleans Parish come from?
The largest single origin is Jefferson Parish, with 2,715 households. Arriving households report an average income of $71,395 against $68,182 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Orleans Parish on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Orleans Parish?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
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