Hi all, Been living here since 2010. It's a a smaller city city with about 81,679 people. With a population of 81,679, Lake Charles is a smaller city. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Am I wrong here? The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse.
26 upvotes
6 Replies
Christian P.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 32, moved here 14 years ago from Seattle. I've lived in Greenfield and Midtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Good healthcare facilities
2. Good internet infrastructure
3. Strong sense of community
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Urban sprawl is real
3. The walkability situation is stable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Greenfield: Great for remote workers. average vibes, walkable.
- Midtown: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Seattle, everything felt excellent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are developing. Gas is pricey. You can live comfortably on $40K-$100K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
36 upvotes
Ian King
same here
23 upvotes
Jace
Came here for quality of life and stayed because the quality of life is solid. The school system is honestly underrated and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
21 upvotes
Luke Davis
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 4 years ago from Dallas and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Westside. It's surprisingly good for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in education. If you're in finance you might struggle.
People: Generally tough. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like Mexican.
Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
16 upvotes
Jayden Ross
facts
8 upvotes
Lillian R.
I work in manufacturing here and I love the pace of life here. The job market for my field is improving. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
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