Baton Rouge Area Chamber

Home > Do Business > Vital Statistics > Demographics

Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) encompasses Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Point Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana parishes and is currently the largest metro area in Louisiana, with a 2005 pre-Hurricane Katrina population estimate of 729,000 persons and a 2006 population estimate of 779,000. The Metro area population grew by approximately 74,000 persons or 9.7% from 2000 to 2006. It is a relatively young population with a median age of 33.7 years (national median age is 36.3 years). Nearly 83% of residents age 25 and over are high school graduates. Approximately 5% hold associate degrees, 20% hold bachelor's degrees and 8% have advanced degrees. Another 23% have some college credit.

Population Demographics
	2000 Census	2005 Estimate	2010 Projection	1990 - 2000 (% Change)	2005-2010 (% Change)
Total Population	705,973	729,282	750,538	13.20%	2.90%
Population Density (Pop/Sq Mi)	167.5	173	178.1	13.20%	2.90%
Total Households	256,637	259,805	262,225	17.90%	0.90%

Population by Gender
Male	345,722 49.00%	358,277 49.10%	369,778 49.30%	13.50%	3.20%
Female	360,251 51.00%	371,005 50.90%	380,760 50.70%	12.80%	2.60%

THE BATON ROUGE AREA POPULATION GROWTH SPIKED AFTER KATRINA AND IS PROJECTED TO ACCELERATE AT A STEADY PACE.

Population by Race/Ethnicity
	2000 Census	2005 Estimate	2010 Projection	1990 - 2000 (% Change)	2005-2010 (% Change)
White	444,961 63.00%	461,201 63.20%	475,690 63.40%	7.50%	3.10%
Black	240,973 34.10%	243,022 33.30%	244,562 32.60%	19.60%	0.60%
American Indian or Alaska Native	1,611 0.20%	1,511 0.20%	1,417 0.20%	50.10%	-6.20%
Asian	9,441 1.30%	14,134 1.90%	19,144 2.60%	64.10%	35.40%
Some Other Race	3,259 0.50%	3,410 0.50%	4,400 0.60%	95.30%	29.00%
Two or More Races	5,728 0.80%	5,992 0.80%	5,303 0.70%		-11.50%

Hispanic Ethnicity	11,582 1.60%	14,885 2.00%	18,100 2.40%	32.70%	21.60%
Not Hispanic or Latino	694,391 98.40%	714,397 98.00%	732,438 97.60%	12.90%	2.50%

Baton Rouge MSA

Households by Income
	2000 Census	2005 Estimate	2010 Projection	1990 - 2000 (% Change)	2005-2010 (% Change)
Average Household Income	$49,207	$55,091	$60,786	48.90%	10.30%
Median Household Income	$37,538	$41,176	$46,252	44.30%	12.30%
Per Capita Income	$17,888	$20,277	$21,921	53.30%	8.10%

Household Units
	2000 Census	2005 Estimate	2010 Projection	1990 - 2000 (% Change)	2005-2010 (% Change)
Total Housing Units	282,511	296,737	299,411	14.50%	0.90%
Owner Occupied	177,952 63.00%	182,542 61.50%	186,523 62.30%	22.60%	2.20%
Renter Occupied	78,685 27.90%	77,263 26.00%	75,702 25.30%	8.60%	-2.00%
Vacant	25,874 9.20%	36,932 12.50%	37,186 12.40%	-11.30%	0.70%

Employment & Business
	2000 Census	2005 Estimate	2010 Projection	1990 - 2000 (% Change)	2005-2010 (% Change)
Age 16+ Population	537,941	564,558	585,169	16.00%	3.70%
In Labor Force	335,007 62.30%	351,760 62.30%	364,723 62.30%	15.80%	3.70%
Employed	313,875 93.70%	329,587 93.70%	341,577 93.70%	18.80%	3.60%
Unemployed	20,751 6.20%	21,742 6.20%	22,694 6.20%	-15.40%	4.30%
In Armed Forces	381 0.10%	431 0.10%	462 0.10%	-23.60%	7.20%
Not In Labor Force	202,934 37.70%	212,367 37.60%	219,984 37.60%	16.40%	3.60%

Number of Employees (Daytime Population)	317,945
Number of Establishments	28,659
Employees in Blue-Collar Occupations	124,582 39.70%
Employees in White-Collar Occupations	189,293 60.30%

Educational Attainment
	2000 Census	2005 Estimate	2010 Projection	1990 - 2000 (% Change)	2005-2010 (% Change)
Age 25+ Population	428,070	459,092	489,618	16.50%	6.70%
Grade K-8	22,816 5.30%	20,859 4.50%	15,916 3.30%	-41.00%%	-23.70%
Grade 9-12	60,755 14.20%	57,595 12.60%	51,016 10.40%	6.30%	-11.40%
High School Graduate	138,277 32.30%	123,030 26.80%	112,440 23.00%	17.30%	-8.60%
Some College, No Degree	92,157 21.50%	107,579 23.40%	120,801 24.70%	33.30%	12.30%
Associate Degree	11,929 2.80%	22,258 4.90%	32,626 6.70%	15.90%	46.60%
Bachelor's Degree	63,353 14.80%	93,527 20.40%	123,162 25.20%	31.80%	31.70%
Graduate Degree	34,080 8.00%	34,244 7.50%	33,657 6.90%	30.00%	-1.70%
No Schooling Completed	4,703 1.10%

East Baton Rouge Parish (2005 pre-Katrina pop. 412,245) is the central parish of the MSA. EBR parish holds 57% of the MSA population and is the location of 73% of the MSA’s jobs. Baton Rouge is the major city within East Baton Rouge parish. It is also home to Zachary, one of the fastest growing cities in the region.

Baton Rouge (pop. 223,197) the capital of Louisiana, was the second largest city (New Orleans being the largest) until Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast/New Orleans region. It is now the largest city in the state and the regional center of business, healthcare and entertainment. Approximately 3.5 million people live within 100 miles of Baton Rouge and over 1 million reside within 50 miles.

Baton Rouge MSA

Related Links