At a Glance
Median Income
$56,864
$35,847 per capita
Home Value
$204,000
Zillow: $202,231
Median Rent
$1,090/mo
33.8% of income on rent
Violent Crime
525/100K
3,692/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
29.4%
90.2% high school+
Unemployment
3.3%
16.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
46.2%
18.7% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
71°F
310 sunny days/yr
How Lake Charles Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Lake Charles's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Lake Charles a Good Place to Live?
B
3.1 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Lake Charles residents earn a median household income of $56,864 , which is 24% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $35,847. The unemployment rate stands at 3.3% (8% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 16.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 6,056 business establishments, including 460 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Lake Charles is $204,000 , 28% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $202,231. Median rent is $1,090/month, with 33.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 88.2 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1978.
Safety & Crime
Lake Charles reports 525 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 38% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,692/100K. The murder rate is 14.0/100K.
Education
29.4% of adults in Lake Charles hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(13% below the national average).
90.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.9/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Lake Charles has an average annual temperature of 71°F (22°C).
Winters average 58°F in January while summers reach 85°F in July. The area gets 310 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 45.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 42.
Data Overview
People
Population81,679
Median Age36.2 yrs
Density1,721/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.8%
Economy
B
Median Income$56,864
Per Capita$35,847
Unemployment3.3%
Poverty16.2%
County GDP$18,357M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,187
Housing
A+
Home Value$204,000
Rent$1,090
Ownership61.1%
Zillow$202,231
Housing Units39,628
Rent Burden33.8%
Crime
F
Violent525/100K
Property3,692/100K
Murder14.0/100K
Assault339/100K
Burglary1,539/100K
Health
Obesity46.2%
Diabetes15.1%
Smoking18.7%
Heart Disease6.5%
Premature Death11,761/100K
Climate
Avg Temp71°F
Sunny Days310/yr
Rain45.6 in/yr
AQI42 (Good)
Elevation20 ft
Education
B
Bachelor's+29.4%
High School+90.2%
Graduate+10.1%
School Score4.9/10
Community
2024 VoteR 69% / D 29%
Commute18 min
Broadband83.6%
Internet Speed109 Mbps
EV Stations9
Libraries12
Did You Know?
Lake Charles was founded in 1861.
The median home in Lake Charles was built in 1978.
The nearest airport is Chennault International (4 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.474 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
15.0% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 109 Mbps.
There are 460 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 28 fatal vehicle crashes.
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