The Town Files

Orleans Parish, Louisiana

371,853 people. The median home is worth $315,700 (typical Louisiana town: $166,450) and the median household earns $56,631.

Towns in Orleans Parish

Towns in Orleans Parish

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
New Orleans383,997$315,700$56,63138.8

People and housing

Orleans ParishTypical Louisiana town
Median home value$315,700$166,450
Median rent$1,251$887
Median household income$56,631$52,134
Median age38.838.4
Bachelor's degree or higher42.4%15.8%
Below the poverty line22.6%20.4%

Jobs and pay

188,050 jobs in 2024, average pay $67,626 a year.

Largest industries in Orleans ParishHotels & restaurants36,213 jobs · $35,825Health care & social assistan…24,943 jobs · $64,606Education17,598 jobs · $66,816Professional & technical serv…14,384 jobs · $108,272Retail13,060 jobs · $37,369Administrative & support10,522 jobs · $55,738
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Orleans Parish0%4%8%12%2000200420102014201820222023 4.5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 450 storm events in Orleans Parish from 1996 to 2026, with 21 deaths.

Storm events in Orleans Parish by type since 1996Hail21Flood13Drought14Tornado14Lightning8Heavy Rain6Flash Flood202Excessive Heat51Tropical Storm4Storm Surge/Tide5
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Orleans Parish has been included in 39 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3638: Severe Winter Storm
September 16, 2024HurricaneDR-4817: Hurricane Francine
September 10, 2024HurricaneEM-3614: Tropical Storm Francine
September 27, 2023OtherEM-3600: Seawater Intrusion
September 13, 2021Coastal StormEM-3574: Tropical Storm Nicholas
August 29, 2021HurricaneDR-4611: Hurricane Ida
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).