Lake Charles, LA Local Data & Statistics

State: LA

Total population: 81,143 Household income: $59,235 Rent: $1,109

Overview

Total population

81,143

Rent

$1,109

Year built

1981

Household income

$59,235

Per capita income

$35,860

Poverty rate

23.3%

Unemployment rate

4.7%

Household size

2.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

51.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Louisiana

Total population

81,143

Adults over 25

54,137

Total households

32,077

Household size

2.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$59,235

Per capita income

$35,860

Poverty rate

23.3%

Unemployment rate

4.7%

Rent over 30% of income

51.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,109

Year built

1981

Households that rent

39.1%

Households that own

60.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

46.1%

Black

42.4%

Asian

2.7%

Two or more races

6.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

5.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

94.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

95%

Commute time to work

17 mins

Work from home

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

31.2%

High school graduate or GED

29.3%

Some college or associate degree

10.4%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

29.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Lake Charles, LA with: Louisiana United States

Lake Charles, LA

Total population81,143

Rent$1,109

Year built1981

Household income$59,235

Per capita income$35,860

Poverty rate23.3%

Unemployment rate4.7%

Louisiana State

Total population4,611,961

Rent$1,064

Year built1983

Household income$60,756

Per capita income$35,038

Poverty rate18.9%

Unemployment rate4.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityLake Charles, LA	StateLouisiana	CountryUnited States
Total population	81,143	4,611,961	334,922,499
Rent	$1,109	$1,064	$1,413
Year built	1981	1983	1980
Household income	$59,235	$60,756	$80,734
Per capita income	$35,860	$35,038	$44,673
Poverty rate	23.3%	18.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.7%	4.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Lake Charles, LA, Louisiana and United States →

Summary for Lake Charles, LA

Lake Charles is located in Louisiana.

Rent & Income

In Lake Charles, the typical monthly rent is $1,109 and the typical household income is $59,235. Rent here is similar to Louisiana and lower than the U.S., and household income is similar to Louisiana and lower than the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 23.3%, which is higher than in both Louisiana and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 39.1% of households. About 51.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 29.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.7%, which is higher than both Louisiana and the national rate.

Lake Charles, LA — Rent vs Household Income

Lake Charles, LA — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Lake Charles, LA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,109 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Lake Charles, LA

Annual Household Income: $59,235

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Lake Charles, LA

Estimated Rate: 23.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Lake Charles, LA

In Lake Charles, LA, households that rent: 12,545 (39.1%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	12,545	39.1%
Owner-Occupied	19,532	60.9%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Lake Charles, LA

In Lake Charles, LA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 6,472 (51.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	6,472	51.6%
Other renter households	6,073	48.4%
Total renter households	12,545	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Lake Charles, LA

Less than High School: 16,874 people (31.2%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 15,845 people (29.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 5,648 people (10.4%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 15,770 people (29.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 54,137

📊 Unemployment Rate in Lake Charles, LA

Estimated Rate: 4.7%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Lehi, UT81,039 Miami Beach, FL81,319 Warner Robins, GA81,438 Flint, MI80,835 Alhambra, CA81,483 Homestead, FL80,725 New Rochelle, NY81,591 Rancho Cordova, CA80,656 Gastonia, NC81,632 Frederick, MD80,617

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.