Dear friends and colleagues,
In late September, the Census Bureau released updated estimates of income, race/ethnicity, homeownership, internet access, and more for our metro area. This 2018 data is the most up-to-date available from the American Community Survey.
Leveraging new technology, we’ve created cutting edge analysis processes to update our widely popular "Who Lives in New Orleans and Metro Parishes Now?" in just a matter of days!
The new data reveal a number of notable findings:
- As across the country, single-person households are increasingly prevalent. The metro area share of individuals living alone grew from 27 percent in 2000 to 35 percent in 2018. In Jefferson Parish, fully 32 percent of households are individuals living alone. And in Orleans Parish, nearly half (49 percent) of all households are individuals living alone.
- In 2018, the largest Hispanic group in metro New Orleans was Honduran, representing 29 percent of the Hispanic population. In comparison, Hondurans represent only 2 percent of the national Hispanic population. These figures point to metro New Orleans as a hub of Honduran migration.
- Only 61 percent of households in Orleans Parish and only 69 percent of households in Jefferson Parish are connected to the Internet through a home-based internet service, such as broadband (cable, DSL, or fiber), satellite, or dial-up service, compared to 74 percent nationwide.
In just 6 months, our country will conduct our once-every-ten-year Census. This will be the first decade that the Census will also be conducted online.
With low internet access rates locally, it’s important that nonprofit, civic, and business leaders partner with the Census Bureau to educate community members about the importance of the Census and the various ways everyone can respond including internet, phone, and familiar paper forms.
Meanwhile, you can find the most recent Census demographic estimates in "Who Lives in New Orleans and Metro Parishes Now?" at:
Bringing you the data you need to make informed decisions,
The Data Center Team
Arthur Rymer, Katrina Andry, Erica Amrine, Allison Plyer, Dabne Whitemore, Jenna Losh, Don Asay, Robby Habans, Lamar Gardere, Cody Brumfield, Amy Teller, and Rachel Weinstein
