Dear friends and colleagues,
Hurricane Ida reminded us once again about the importance of planning for the needs of group quarters residents. The once-every-ten-year census is the only source of comprehensive, location-specific group quarters data. We analyzed and mapped recently released 2020 Census data to help planners understand the scale of the group quarters population by type, as well as average household size across the metro area and in New Orleans neighborhoods. Notable findings include:
- In New Orleans the number of people living in college and university dorms nearly doubled from 2010 to 2020.
- In 2020, the number of people in adult correction facilities in Orleans Parish had decreased to less than half its 2010 number and is now 0.45% of the city population.
- In contrast, the number of people in adult correctional facilities in Plaquemines Parish has greatly increased and now represents 2.13% of that parish’s population.
- The 2020 Census counted 2,004, 1,297, and 1,227 residents in nursing home facilities in Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Tammany, respectively.
- Average household size in metro New Orleans fell from 2.53 in 2010 to 2.44 in 2020, bucking the national trend.
- New Orleans has the lowest average household size in the metro at 2.23.
- The Central Business District and French Quarter have average household sizes below 1.5, with one-person households being the majority in these two neighborhoods.
To learn more about what the 2020 Census reveals, check out “Residents in group quarters and average household size across the New Orleans metro” at:
Bringing you the data you need to make informed decisions,
The Data Center Team
Allison Plyer, Thomas Wilson, Dabne Whitemore, Jenna Losh, Don Asay, Robby Habans, Lamar Gardere, Cody Brumfield, and Katrina Andry
