CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 1990 CENSUS

Lake Charles Metro

Lake Charles, LA · 3 counties · 208,116 residents · 3,000.24 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Lake Charles has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $23,538. Population has declined 8% since 2000. Median home value is $51,845.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 31.6
US median: 33.0
Less educated
13% 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
208,116
−8%vs 2000
vs 225,003 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
69 / sq mi
−8%vs 2000
vs 75 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 221
Median age
31.6
−8%vs 2000
vs 34.5 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
203K217K231K245K259K1990201020202024Lake Charles
2024244K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$23,538
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $34,255 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$10,785
−37%vs 2000
vs $17,003 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
19.7%
+3.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 16.1% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$51,845
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $67,501 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$325
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $447 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
71.7%
−1.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 72.6% in 2000
28.3% rent
Afford Score
2.2
+12%vs 2000
vs 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
1990
White, non-Hispanic77.8%(161,909)
Black21.5%(44,778)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(2,379)
Asian0.2%(459)
Other0.5%(970)
Diversity Score45.4%(94,420)
Diversity Score
45
−4%vs 2000
vs 47 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.4%
−2.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 15.5% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
68.4%
−7.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 75.6% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
4.3%
−0.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 4.8% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.3 min
+29%vs 2000
vs 14.2 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.

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+180%
Home value$204,317+294%
Population239,979−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE CHARLES VS
Binghamton
Income$64,592+174%
Home value$156,052+201%
Population243,189−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE CHARLES VS
Prescott Valley
Income$69,613+196%
Home value$425,200+720%
Population252,552+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE CHARLES VS
Lynchburg
Income$67,702+188%
Home value$243,239+369%
Population269,169+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lake Charles, LA?

Lake Charles, LA has about 208,116 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Lake Charles, LA earns about $23,538 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 $51,845, and the typical rent is about $325 a month.

How educated are people in Lake Charles, LA?

About 13.4% 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 19.7% of people in Lake Charles, LA live below the federal poverty line.

Keep going

Explore from here

Metro rankings
Largest US metrosHighest income metrosFastest growing metros
Compare
Compare Lake Charles with another metro

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

How we source and harmonize this data →