Barney Cannon, a popular Country music deejay for radio station KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana, was born in New Boston in 1955. Upon his death in 2009, he was interred at Red Bayou Cemetery there.
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,808 people, 1,968 households, and 1,334 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,377.1 people per square mile (531.9/km²). There were 2,229 housing units at an average density of 638.4/sq mi (246.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.49% White, 17.64% African American, 0.75% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.46% of the population.
There were 1,968 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 82.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,531, and the median income for a family was $38,542. Males had a median income of $29,940 versus $21,316 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,190. About 11.6% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.