Ouachita Parish, Louisiana: commercial real estate data.
Ouachita Parish, Louisiana had an estimated 157,874 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 160,366, across 610 square miles. County output reached $9.31 bn in 2024, 4,181 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 65 7(a) approvals worth $41.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Ouachita Parish
How many people live in Ouachita Parish
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024158,480
- Households61,489
- Average household size2.58
- Median household income$54,688
- Median age36.6
- Median gross rent$959 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$194,400
- Home value to household income3.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income21.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher28.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree11.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over104,362
- Population under 1838,938
- Share under 1824.6 percent
- Population 65 and over25,119
- Share 65 and over15.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6494,423
- Civilian labor force74,090
- Unemployment rate6.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.0 percent
- Rank by population among Louisiana parishes8th of 64
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included440th of 3,222
Ouachita Parish is the 8th largest of 64 Louisiana parishes by population. A median home costs 3.6 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.6 percent against 15.8 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Ouachita Parish
Is Ouachita Parish's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024157,874
- Census 2020 base population160,366
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.55 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024162
- Births, 20241,915
- Deaths, 20241,808
- Natural change, 2024107
- Net domestic migration, 2024-354
- Net international migration, 2024405
- Total net migration, 202451
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-3,438
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2374th of 3,144
The county has lost 1.55 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Ouachita Parish
Where are people moving to Ouachita Parish from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,910
- People arriving, from those returns5,519
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,263
- Net household movement-353
- Adjusted gross income arriving$132.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-32.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$45,403
- Average income of a leaving household$50,499
- Largest single originLincoln Parish (200 households)
- Largest single destinationDallas County (185 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Parish | 200 | 363 | $7.7 m |
| Morehouse Parish | 188 | 380 | $9.5 m |
| Richland Parish | 172 | 336 | $6.8 m |
| Union Parish | 143 | 279 | $5.6 m |
| Franklin Parish | 86 | 161 | $3.3 m |
| Dallas County | 86 | 173 | $3.4 m |
| Caddo Parish | 74 | 121 | $2.9 m |
| Jackson Parish | 72 | 133 | $2.8 m |
Households arriving report $5,096 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Lincoln 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.
Ouachita Parish
What is the Ouachita Parish economy?
- County GDP, 2024$9.31 bn
- County GDP, 2023$8.90 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.6 percent
- GDP change over five years28.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Louisiana areas BEA publishes10th of 64
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes466th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$58,726
Output grew 4.6 percent in the latest year and 28.8 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.
Ouachita Parish
Employment by industry in Ouachita Parish
- Covered employment, annual average69,384
- Establishments reporting5,397
- Average annual pay$50,059
- Average weekly wage$963
- Health care and social assistance, employment14,546
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$49,276
- Retail trade, employment8,310
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,857
- Accommodation and food services, employment7,018
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,839
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment5,263
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$45,652
- Manufacturing, employment4,618
- Construction, employment3,932
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 14,546 | 820 | $49,276 |
| Retail trade | 8,310 | 749 | $32,857 |
| Accommodation and food services | 7,018 | 402 | $19,839 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 5,263 | 326 | $45,652 |
| Manufacturing | 4,618 | 141 | $77,360 |
| Construction | 3,932 | 466 | $59,295 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,694 | 660 | $68,181 |
| Finance and insurance | 2,627 | 333 | $73,847 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 14,546 jobs, 21.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Ouachita Parish
How many businesses are in Ouachita Parish?
- Establishments, all industries4,181
- Employment at those establishments59,407
- Annual payroll$2.80 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.4
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.
Ouachita Parish
Building permits in Ouachita Parish
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024345
- Declared construction value permitted$83.4 m
- Single family units authorized338
- Multifamily units authorized7
- Multifamily share of units2.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$241,683
- Units authorized per 1,000 households5.6
Single-family homes are 98.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Ouachita Parish
SBA loans in Ouachita Parish (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded65
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$41.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$638,629
- Median 7(a) approval$250,000
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,915,320
- Largest single approval$3,836,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)896
- Jobs per approval13.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active28
- Distinct industries receiving approvals41
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer23.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms15
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter43
- Franchise loans9
- Franchise share of approvals13.8 percent
- 504 approvals recorded26
- 504 gross approval dollars$16.4 m
- Average 504 approval$629,615
- Median 504 approval$565,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval11.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved18.6
- Most active CDCSBA CLSC Servicing (14)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$57.9 m
The average approval of $638,629 sits well above the median of $250,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 23.1 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.
Ouachita Parish
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Ouachita Parish
Do SBA loans in Ouachita Parish get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded8
- Paid in full5
- Charged off3
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Cancelled13
- Status: Exempt from disclosure42
- Status: Charged off3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 8 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
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.
Ouachita Parish
SBA lending by place in Ouachita Parish
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- West Monroe, approvals34
- Monroe, approvals26
- Sterlington, approvals3
- Calhoun, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| West Monroe | 34 | $18,164,300 |
| Monroe | 26 | $19,743,200 |
| Sterlington | 3 | $3,175,400 |
| Calhoun | 2 | $428,000 |
West Monroe accounts for 34 approvals against 26 in Monroe. 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.
Ouachita Parish
How large is Ouachita Parish?
- Land area610 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Louisiana parishes38th of 64
- Width, east to west29.4 mi
- Height, north to south30.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land260
- Establishments per square mile6.85
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.
Ouachita Parish
Flood risk in Ouachita Parish
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Ouachita Parish, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 220135
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- 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 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Ouachita Parish, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Ouachita Parish (community 220135), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Ouachita 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 8, 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 Ouachita 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 Ouachita Parish site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024158,480
- Households61,489
- Average household size2.58
- Median household income$54,688
- Median age36.6
Common questions
Ouachita Parish questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana?
The Census Bureau estimates 157,874 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 158,480, in 61,489 households, ranking 8th of 64 Louisiana counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Ouachita Parish's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.55 percent since the 2020 census base of 160,366, to 157,874 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,915 births against 1,808 deaths, with net migration of 51. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Ouachita Parish?
$54,688. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $194,400, which is 3.6 times income, and median gross rent is $959 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Ouachita Parish?
4,181 establishments, employing 59,407 people with an annual payroll of $2.80 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 Ouachita Parish?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 14,546 jobs, 21.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 69,384 jobs at an average annual pay of $50,059, or $963 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Ouachita Parish?
65 7(a) approvals totaling $41.5 m since FY2020, across 28 lenders, with a median approval of $250,000, plus 26 504 approvals worth $16.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Ouachita Parish?
345 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $83.4 m. Multifamily was 2.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Ouachita 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 Ouachita Parish come from?
The largest single origin is Lincoln Parish, with 200 households. Arriving households report an average income of $45,403 against $50,499 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Ouachita 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 Ouachita 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.
Ouachita Parish
Cities and places in Ouachita.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Ouachita Parish. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe | city | 47,004 | 26 | Wholly in this county |
| Claiborne | CDP | 13,308 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| West Monroe | city | 12,729 | 34 | Wholly in this county |
| Brownsville | CDP | 4,357 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Swartz | CDP | 4,110 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Richwood | town | 3,839 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lakeshore | CDP | 3,437 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bawcomville | CDP | 2,804 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sterlington | town | 2,229 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Calhoun | CDP | 420 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
Nearby