Lake Charles, LA — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 81,679 · Louisiana · Updated May 2026
Population
81,679
Median Income
$56,864
Home Price
$204,081
Unemployment
5.5%
Poverty Rate
23.2%
Bachelor's+
29.4%
Full Demographics — Lake Charles, LA
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Lake Charles, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 81,679 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 36.2 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 4.7% | 13.8% | |
| White | 47.3% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 42.8% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 2.6% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 4.7% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Lake Charles, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $56,864 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $35,847 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $55,297 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 23.2% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 29.4% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Lake Charles, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $204,081 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Lake Charles, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 643 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2824 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Lake Charles, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 45.6% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 16.2% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 19.7% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.6% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 15.6% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 18.0% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Lake Charles, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 62.4 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Lake Charles, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.9 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Lake Charles, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 19.0 min | 27.0 min |
Compare Lake Charles with Another City
Popular Comparisons
About Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles is a city in Louisiana, United States. With a population of 81,679, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Lake Charles shows stronger commute time (19 min average commute vs 27 min average commute US avg) and air quality (75% good air days vs 70% good air days US avg). However, the city has a higher educational attainment at 29.4% bachelor's degree, compared to the US average of 35.8% bachelor's degree. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.