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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Lake Charles Metro

Lake Charles, LA · 3 counties · 254,652 residents · 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 $51,670. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $153,663.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 37.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 51%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
254,652
+13%since 2000
from 225,003 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
85 / sq mi
+13%since 2000
from 75 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
37.4
+8%since 2000
from 34.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
203K217K231K245K259K1990201020202024Lake Charles
2024244K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,670
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,255 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,320
+72%since 2000
from $17,003 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
35.1%
+9.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
16.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 16.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Wholesale trade12.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Information11%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade9.9%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing2.8%
US avg: 0.5%
Public administration2.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 2%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$153,663
+51%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,501 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$823
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $447 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
67.8%
−4.8 ptssince 2000
from 72.6% in 2000
32.2% rent
Afford Score
3.0
+51%since 2000
from 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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic65.6%(167,139)
Black23.6%(60,026)
Hispanic / Latino4.8%(12,315)
Asian1.5%(3,910)
Other2.7%(6,986)
Diversity Score61.7%(157,074)
Segregation Score50.4%(128,251)
Diversity Score
62
+31%since 2000
from 47 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
50
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.3%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
86.7%
+11.2 ptssince 2000
from 75.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
7.3%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.8 min
+60%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
85.3%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 82.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 8.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
59.8%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 61.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
31.7%
−27.5 ptssince 2009
from 59.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
2.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.9%
−75.8 ptssince 2013
from 83.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+27%
Home value$204,317+33%
Population239,979−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE CHARLES VS
Binghamton
Income$64,592+25%
Home value$156,052+2%
Population243,189−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE CHARLES VS
Prescott Valley
Income$69,613+35%
Home value$425,200+177%
Population252,552+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE CHARLES VS
Lynchburg
Income$67,702+31%
Home value$243,239+58%
Population269,169+10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lake Charles, LA?

Lake Charles, LA has about 254,652 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Lake Charles, LA earns about $51,670 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 $153,663, and the typical rent is about $823 a month.

How educated are people in Lake Charles, LA?

About 21.3% 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 16.7% 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 46,536 residents, a change of about 22 percent over that period.

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

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