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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Lake Charles

Louisiana · 70,580 residents · 47.469 sq mi
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The short version

Lake Charles has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $21,225. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value is $51,300. The poverty rate of 23.6% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 32.2
US median: 33.0
Average education
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
70,580
−2%vs 2000
vs 71,757 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
32.2
−9%vs 2000
vs 35.3 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
69K73K78K82K86K1990201020202024Lake Charles
202481K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 57.5%(5,299)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 98%(5,619)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.7%(5,446)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 197.6%(5,339)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 247.7%(5,468)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3416.1%(11,366)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4413.5%(9,499)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 549.4%(6,622)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 649.4%(6,644)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 748%(5,620)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 844.2%(2,965)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1%(693)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$21,225
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $30,774 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$11,475
−36%vs 2000
vs $17,922 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
23.6%
+4.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 19.6% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$51,300
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $70,800 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$339
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $462 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
58.4%
+0.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 57.6% in 2000
41.6% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lake Charles on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic49.5%(35,540)
Black46.6%(33,414)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(1,007)
Asian1.1%(766)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic57.5%(40,566)
Black41.7%(29,397)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(781)
Asian0.4%(283)
Other0.5%(334)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Central American1.9%(1,510)
Mexican1.3%(1,074)
Honduran1.3%(1,050)
Cuban0.7%(603)
Salvadoran0.4%(333)
Puerto Rican0.4%(322)
Venezuelan0.3%(246)
Spaniard0.2%(124)
Guatemalan0.1%(120)
Colombian0.1%(115)
Dominican0.1%(52)
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Pakistani0.7%(560)
Asian Indian0.5%(444)
Filipino0.3%(231)
Nepalese0.3%(229)
Chinese0.2%(166)
Vietnamese0.2%(123)
Laotian0.1%(111)
Hmong0.1%(93)
Thai0%(25)
Korean0%(8)
+ 1 more asian origin group with data
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(76)
Ancestry
French7.7%(6,224)
English6.9%(5,635)
German5.2%(4,195)
American4.7%(3,828)
Irish4.5%(3,655)
French Canadian2.6%(2,128)
Italian2.5%(2,065)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(731)
Scottish0.6%(525)
West Indian0.4%(289)
Polish0.3%(273)
+ 29 more ancestry groups with data
Arab0.3%(223)
Dutch0.3%(222)
Jamaican0.3%(212)
Norwegian0.2%(196)
Welsh0.2%(196)
Lebanese0.2%(174)
Czech0.2%(133)
British0.1%(113)
Nigerian0.1%(106)
Swedish0.1%(105)
Ukrainian0.1%(101)
Canadian0.1%(98)
Swiss0.1%(96)
Russian0.1%(82)
Finnish0.1%(64)
Greek0.1%(56)
Portuguese0.1%(55)
Turkish0.1%(51)
Haitian0.1%(48)
Austrian0.1%(45)
Lithuanian0.1%(44)
Armenian0.1%(41)
Hungarian0%(33)
Barbadian0%(23)
Danish0%(13)
Brazilian0%(12)
Syrian0%(11)
Belgian0%(8)
RANKED:Largest French population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.4%
−1.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 20.2% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
69.4%
−6.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 75.4% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
6.5%
−1.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 7.5% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.5 min
+36%vs 2000
vs 10.7 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married40%(12,759)
Married46.1%(14,710)
Widowed3.1%(990)
Divorced10.9%(3,467)
Women 15+
Never married35.5%(12,160)
Married41%(14,063)
Widowed10.8%(3,703)
Divorced12.7%(4,342)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Lake Charles

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Pop 89,339
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Pop 80,690
Wilmington
Pop 73,512
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Head to head

Compare Lake Charles to nearby cities

LAKE CHARLES VS
Moss Bluff
Income$92,036+334%
Home value$252,900+393%
Population12,482−85%
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LAKE CHARLES VS
Sulphur
Income$61,760+191%
Home value$182,900+257%
Population20,492−75%
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LAKE CHARLES VS
Orange
Income$62,891+196%
Home value$164,900+221%
Population19,419−77%
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LAKE CHARLES VS
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Income$48,558+129%
Home value$136,700+166%
Population9,235−89%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lake Charles, Louisiana?

Lake Charles, Louisiana has about 70,580 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Lake Charles, Louisiana?

The typical household in Lake Charles, Louisiana earns about $21,225 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lake Charles, Louisiana expensive?

In Lake Charles, Louisiana, the median home is worth about $51,300, and the typical rent is about $339 a month.

How educated are people in Lake Charles, Louisiana?

About 18.4% of adults age 25 and over in Lake Charles, Louisiana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lake Charles, Louisiana?

About 23.6% of people in Lake Charles, Louisiana live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →