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METRO AREA

Lake Charles Metro

Lake Charles, LA · 3 counties · 244,655 residents (2025 est.) · 3,000.24 sq mi
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The short version

Lake Charles has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $66,385. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $208,042.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 69%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
244,027
+8%since 2000
from 225,003 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
81 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 75 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.6
+9%since 2000
from 34.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:244,655 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
203K217K231K245K259K1990201020202024Lake Charles
2024244K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,385
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,255 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,427
+108%since 2000
from $17,003 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
44.7%
+18.9 ptssince 2009
from 25.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 16.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.475
+3%since 2010
from 0.461 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade10.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing2%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$208,042
+69%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,501 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,087
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $447 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 72.6% in 2000
26.2% rent
Vacancy rate
18.5%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.6%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 38.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+59%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
57
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lake Charles on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic74.7%(168,098)
Black22.1%(49,728)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(2,990)
Asian0.6%(1,268)
Other0%
Diversity Score47.1%(105,957)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic66.8%(162,931)
Black21.8%(53,078)
Hispanic / Latino4.9%(11,933)
Asian1.3%(3,094)
Other5.3%(12,991)
Diversity Score62.7%(152,978)
Segregation Score44.4%(108,436)
Diversity Score
63
+33%since 2000
from 47 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
44
−12%since 2020
from 50 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.4%
+8.0 ptssince 2000
from 15.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.2%
+13.6 ptssince 2000
from 75.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.1%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.9 min
+61%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 82.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.3%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.3%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 8.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 61.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.8%
−23.3 ptssince 2009
from 59.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
3.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.5%
−40.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.9%
−2.0 ptssince 2012
from 16.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.3%
−76.5 ptssince 2013
from 83.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.5%
+15.8 ptssince 2017
from 69.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 92.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 2.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Lake CharlesCENTRAL82,676
What's inside

3 component counties

Calcasieu ParishCENTRAL208,466Jefferson Davis Parish31,471Cameron Parish4,718
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Lake Charles

Champaign
Pop 239,979
Binghamton
Pop 243,189
Prescott Valley
Pop 252,552
Lynchburg
Pop 269,169
Places similar to Lake Charles
Head to head

Compare Lake Charles side by side

LAKE CHARLES VS
Champaign
Income$65,789−1%
Home value$204,317−2%
Population239,979−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE CHARLES VS
Binghamton
Income$64,592−3%
Home value$156,052−25%
Population243,189−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE CHARLES VS
Prescott Valley
Income$69,613+5%
Home value$425,200+104%
Population252,552+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE CHARLES VS
Lynchburg
Income$67,702+2%
Home value$243,239+17%
Population269,169+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lake Charles, LA?

Lake Charles, LA has about 244,027 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Lake Charles, LA earns about $66,385 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lake Charles, LA expensive?

In Lake Charles, LA, the median home is worth about $208,042, and the typical rent is about $1,087 a month.

How educated are people in Lake Charles, LA?

About 23.4% of adults age 25 and over in Lake Charles, LA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lake Charles, LA?

About 16.8% of people in Lake Charles, LA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lake Charles, LA grown since 1990?

Yes, Lake Charles, LA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 35,911 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →