Chapter 3: Historical trends
Overview
To better understand West Monroe’s current position and how the city might change in the future, this chapter provides an analysis of demographic and socioeconomic indicators compared to regional (i.e. parish), state, and national trends. Ultimately, these factors will affect West Monroe’s land use, housing, transportation, and infrastructure now and into the future.
Population
Total Population
West Monroe is maintaining its population.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau there are 13,103 people living in West Monroe as shown in the 2020 Census. Between 2010 and 2020, West Monroe’s population decreased by 207 people or 1.56 percent. During this period, West Monroe’s average annual growth rate was -0.16 percent; however, Ouachita Parish (0.43 percent) and Louisiana (0.27 percent) both experienced slight annual growth during this same period and all lagged behind the United States (0.74 percent) as a whole.
Median Age
West Monroe has a higher median age than the parish and state.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-year estimates West Monroe’s median age is 39.7, which is higher than Ouachita Parish (36.2), Louisiana (37.2), and United States (38.2).
Median Age
39.7 Years
West Monroe, Louisiana
36.2 Years
Ouachita Parish, Louisiana
37.2 Years
Lousiana
38.2 Year
United States of America
Sources: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2016-2020
Population by age
West Monroe’s population is slowly growing older, but still maintains a thriving young adult population.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau West Monroe’s 55 and older population increased from 27.7 percent in 1990 to 29.6 percent in the 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Although West Monroe’s 55 and older population increased slightly (1.9 percent) during this period, it didn’t grow nearly as much as Ouachita Parish (7.7 percent) and Louisiana (9.2 percent). Consistent with parish and state trends, West Monroe’s largest age cohort has been and continues to be people ages 25 to 34. Between 1990 and 2020 this age group increased from 15.9 percent to 20.7 percent in West Monroe while the parish (-1.6 percent) and state (-2.4 percent) experienced a decrease.
Sources: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2016-2020
Sources: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2016-2020
Sources: US Census Bureau 2010
Sources: US Census Bureau 2000
Sources: US Census Bureau 1990
Household Size
West Monroe has a smaller average household size than the parish and state.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau West Monroe’s average household size was 2.16 in the 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, which is substantially lower than Ouachita Parish (2.6), Louisiana (2.59), and the United States (2.6). Between 1990 and 2020 West Monroe’s average household size decreased from 2.36 people in 1990 to 2.16 in 2020. During this same period, the average household size in the parish and state decreased as well.
Average Household Size
2.16 People
West Monroe, Louisiana
2.6 People
Ouachita Parish, Louisiana
2.59 People
Lousiana
2.6 People
United States of America
Sources: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2016-2020
Household type
West Monroe has more non-family households than the parish, state, and country.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-year estimates West Monroe (51.9 percent) has a substantially larger percentage of non-family households than Ouachita Parish (38.2 percent), Louisiana (36.3 percent), and the United States (34.7 percent). A family household has at least two people and is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as “a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption”. A non-family household may be either a single person or unrelated people living together.
Due to its proximity to three universities and one community college, West Monroe is likely to have more college students living within its city limits, which could partially explain its lower number of family households when compared to the parish, state, and country.
West Monroe has more single-mother households than the parish, state, and country.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-year estimates West Monroe (54.1 percent) has a substantially larger percentage of single-mother households than Ouachita Parish (35 percent), Louisiana (31 percent), and the United States (23.4 percent).
Education
Educational attainment
West Monroe’s population has grown more educated.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau West Monroe’s college-educated population with an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or graduate degree has increased from 19.4 percent in 1990 to 26.7 percent in 2020. However, Louisiana (31.3 percent) and the United States (41.5 percent) have demonstrated more significant growth in college-educated people during the same period. West Monroe experienced a slight increase in high school graduates from 33.7 percent in 1990 to 33.8 percent in 2020, whereas Ouachita Parish experienced an increase from 29.7 percent in 1990 to 34.5 percent in 2020.
Geography | Less than 9th Grade | 9th to 12th Grade, No Diploma | High School Degree | Some College No Degree | Associates Degree | Bachelor's Degree | Graduate Degree |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
West Monroe, LA | 3.3% | 12.1% | 33.8% | 24% | 6.3% | 13.5% | 6.9% |
Ouachita Parish, LA | 3.1% | 9.1% | 34.5% | 22.8% | 5.4% | 15.5% | 9.5% |
Louisiana | 4.7% | 9.5% | 33.3% | 21.2% | 6.5% | 15.9% | 8.9% |
United States of America | 4.9% | 6.6% | 26.7% | 20.3% | 8.6% | 20.2% | 12.7% |
Sources: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2016-2020
Income
Median Household income
West Monroe’s median household income is lower than the parish and state.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau West Monroe’s median household income has increased from $20,530 in 1990 to $35,528 in 2020. However, Ouachita Parish ($25,129 in 1990 to $44,934 in 2020) and Louisiana ($21,949 in 1990 to $50,800 in 2020) experienced greater growth during this same period. Between 2010 and 2020, West Monroe’s median household income decreased 2.40 percent and the parish’s decreased by 0.90 percent, yet the state’s grew 13.22 percent during the same period.
Sources: US Census Bureau; US Census Bureau ACS 5-year
Poverty
West Monroe has more residents living at or below the poverty line than the parish and state.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau more than a quarter (27.6 percent) of West Monroe’s population is living at or below the poverty line, which is $12,760 for a single individual and $26,200 for a family of four. Between 2010 and 2020, West Monroe realized a 7.5 percent increase in this population segment at a greater rate than Ouachita Parish (1.2 percent) and Louisiana (0.4 percent) during the same period.
Geography | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2016-2020 | Percent Change (2010-2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
West Monroe, LA | 21.0% | 20.7% | 20.1% | 27.6% | 7.5% |
Ouachita Parish, LA | 23.8% | 20.0% | 21.1% | 22.3% | 1.2% |
Louisiana | 22.9% | 19.0% | 17.7% | 18.1% | 0.4% |
United States of America | 12.8% | 12.0% | 13.8% | 12.5% | -1.3% |
Sources: US Census 1990, 2000, 2010; US Census ACS 5-year 2015-2019
West Monroe is located in a persistent poverty parish.
Persistent poverty counties (or parishes) are counties/parishes that have had poverty rates of 20 percent or greater for at least 30 years. Since Ouachita Parish has maintained a poverty rate of 20 percent or greater since 1990, it is considered a persistent poverty parish which also designates West Monroe a persistent poverty area.
See the Congressional Research Service’s report titled “The 10-20-30 Provision: Defining Persistent Poverty Counties” for more information.
Employment
Unemployment rate
Ouachita Parish generally has a lower unemployment rate than Louisiana.
According to unemployment rates calculated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Ouachita Parish (7.7 percent) and Louisiana (7.5 percent) were not nearly as impacted by the Great Recession compared to the United States (9.6 percent). Although the national economy and state and local economies are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, Ouachita Parish (3.6 percent) has maintained a lower unemployment rate than Louisiana (4.3 percent) and, as of March 2022, maintains a lower unemployment rate compared to the country (3.8 percent) as a whole. Unemployment data for the City of West Monroe alone is not available.
Geography | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2022* | Percent Change (2010-2022) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ouachita Parish, LA | 5.5% | 4.6% | 7.7% | 3.6% | -4.1% |
Louisiana | 6.2% | 5.2% | 7.5% | 4.3% | -3.2% |
United States of America | 5.6% | 4.0% | 9.6% | 3.8% | -5.8% |
*Data includes January-April 2021 only based on availability
Sources: US Census Bureau; US Census Bureau ACS 5-year
Labor force participation rate
West Monroe’s labor force participation rate is nearly on par with the rest of the country.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the labor force participation rate is defined as “the percentage of the civilian non-institutional population 16 years and older that is working or actively looking for work”. It is an important labor market measure because it represents the relative amount of labor resources available for the production of goods and services. In comparison to Ouachita Parish (57.4 percent) and the state (59.2 percent), West Monroe has the highest labor force participation rate with 62.1 percent of its population (16 years and older) either working or actively looking for work. However, West Monroe’s labor force participation rate falls below the nation (63.4 percent) slightly which demonstrates some inefficiencies in the local labor market.
Sources: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2016-2020
Commute times
West Monroe residents experience shorter commutes to work than those who live in the parish and state.
More than half of West Monroe’s working population commutes less than 15 minutes to their workplace, which is significantly more than the parish (33.2 percent), state (26.9 percent), and country (23.7 percent). Only four percent of West Monroe’s working population commutes to work for 45 minutes or longer, which is substantially less compared to the parish (6.9 percent), state (14.7 percent), and country (16.3 percent).
Sources: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2016-2020
Inflow & Outflow
West Monroe has more people that commute to work in the city than leave to work elsewhere.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s OnTheMap tool West Monroe has a net inflow of workers. 12,652 people that live outside of West Monroe are employed in the city, and an additional 1,130 people are both living and employed in West Monroe. There are only 4,201 people who live in West Monroe but are employed elsewhere.
Work Destinations
West Monroe residents work primarily in Ouachita Parish.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s OnTheMap tool 72.8 percent of West Monroe residents who work do so in Ouachita Parish. Approximately 38.6 percent of those residents work in the City of Monroe and 21.2 percent work in the City of West Monroe. Additionally 13 percent of West Monroe residents work in other counties/parishes and 27 percent work in other cities beyond the top 10 listed, respectively.
Work Destinations by County/Parish (2018)
County/Parish | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
Ouachita Parish, LA | 3,878 | 72.8% |
Lincoln Parish, LA | 170 | 3.2% |
Caddo Parish, LA | 122 | 2.3% |
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA | 117 | 2.2% |
Richland Parish, LA | 70 | 1.3% |
Bossier Parish, LA | 60 | 1.1% |
Morehouse Parish, LA | 57 | 1.1% |
Lafayette Parish, LA | 55 | 1.0% |
Harris County, TX | 55 | 1.0% |
Jefferson Parish, LA | 52 | 1.0% |
All Other Counties/Parishes | 695 | 13.0% |
Total | 5,331 | 100.0% |
Work Destinations by City (2018)
County/Parish | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
Ouachita Parish, LA | 3,878 | 72.8% |
Lincoln Parish, LA | 170 | 3.2% |
Caddo Parish, LA | 122 | 2.3% |
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA | 117 | 2.2% |
Richland Parish, LA | 70 | 1.3% |
Bossier Parish, LA | 60 | 1.1% |
Morehouse Parish, LA | 57 | 1.1% |
Lafayette Parish, LA | 55 | 1.0% |
Harris County, TX | 55 | 1.0% |
Jefferson Parish, LA | 52 | 1.0% |
All Other Counties/Parishes | 695 | 13.0% |
Total | 5,331 | 100.0% |
Housing
Owner vs. Renter Occupied
Homeownership has decreased substantially in West Monroe since 1990.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 39.3 percent of West Monroe residents own their home and 60.7 percent of residents rent their dwelling. These figures are vastly different in comparison to Ouachita Parish (60% owner / 40% renter), Louisiana (66.6% owner / 33.4% renter), and the United States (64.4% owner / 35.6% renter) overall. In 1990, 58.3 percent of West Monroe residents owned their homes.
Geography | Owner (1990) | Renter (1990) | Owner (2000) | Renter (2000) | Owner (2010) | Renter (2010) | Owner (2016-2020) | Renter (2016-2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
West Monroe, LA | 58.3% | 42.3% | 57.2% | 47.9% | 46.7% | 53.7% | 39.3% | 60.7% |
Ouachita Parish, LA | 64.8% | 35.2% | 64.1% | 35.9% | 61.2% | 38.8% | 60.0% | 40.0% |
Louisiana | 65.9% | 34.1% | 67.9% | 32.1% | 67.2% | 32.8% | 66.6% | 33.4% |
United States of America | 64.2% | 35.8% | 66.2% | 33.8% | 65.1% | 34.9% | 64.4% | 35.6% |
Median Home Value
West Monroe’s median home value is increasing, but still more affordable than the parish, state, and country.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, West Monroe’s median home value is $127,500. In the 2010 Census, West Monroe’s median home value was $106,285, which is a 16.64 percent increase compared to the 2016-2020 estimates. West Monroe realized the lowest percentage change in median home value between 2010 and 2020 compared to the parish, state and country, but only lagged behind the United States by 2.33 percent.
Geography | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2016-2020 | Percent Change (2010 to 2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
West Monroe, LA | $48,991.00 | $74,549.00 | $106,285.00 | $127,500.00 | 16.64% |
Ouachita Parish, LA | $54,987.00 | $82,799.00 | $114,695.00 | $150,200.00 | 23.64% |
Louisiana | $58,000.00 | $85,000.00 | $135,400.00 | $168,100.00 | 19.45% |
United States of America | $79,100.00 | $111,800.00 | $186,200.00 | $229,800.00 | 18.97% |
Monthly Rent
West Monroe’s monthly home rent is generally more affordable compared to the parish, state, and country.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau 61.1 percent of West Monroe residents pay $500 to $999 on monthly rent, compared to Ouachita Parish (56.3 percent), Louisiana (45.8 percent), and the United States (32.7 percent). Nearly 17 percent of West Monroe residents pay $499 or less on monthly rent compared to Ouachita Parish (16.3 percent) and the state (11.9 percent).
Geography | $200 or less | $200 to $299 | $300 to $499 | $500 to $749 | $750 to $999 | $1,000 to $1,499 | $1,500 to $1,999 | $2,000 or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
West Monroe, LA | 0.0% | 7.8% | 8.8% | 35.6% | 25.5% | 10.5% | 2.1% | 2.5% |
Ouachita Parish, LA | 1.0% | 4.4% | 10.9% | 26.8% | 29.5% | 16.4% | 2.1% | 0.9% |
Louisiana | 1.2% | 3.5% | 7.2% | 18.6% | 27.2% | 24.0% | 5.6% | 2.1% |
United States of America | 0.9% | 2.6% | 4.9% | 13.4% | 19.3% | 28.7% | 14.2% | 11.0% |