Jonesboro AR vs Lake Charles LA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Lake Charles, LA

Louisiana · Population: 81,679

Median HH Income$56,864
Median Home Price$204,081
Unemployment5.5%
Bachelor's+29.4%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

81,679

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

N/A

Median Age

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

36.2

Foreign Born

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

4.7%

White

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

47.3%

Black

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

42.8%

Asian

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

2.6%

Hispanic

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

4.7%

Spanish at Home

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

N/A

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lake Charles, LA	Better
Population	N/A	81,679	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	N/A	36.2	-
Foreign Born	N/A	4.7%	-
White	N/A	47.3%	-
Black	N/A	42.8%	-
Asian	N/A	2.6%	-
Hispanic	N/A	4.7%	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

$56,864

Per Capita Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

$35,847

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Jonesboro

$53,714

Lake Charles

$55,297

Lake Charles +

Unemployment Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

5.5%

Poverty Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

23.2%

Bachelor's Degree+

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

29.4%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lake Charles, LA	Better
Median HH Income	N/A	$56,864	-
Per Capita Income	N/A	$35,847	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$53,714	$55,297	Lake Charles +
Unemployment Rate	N/A	5.5%	-
Poverty Rate	N/A	23.2%	-
Bachelor's Degree+	N/A	29.4%	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Jonesboro

$225,577

Lake Charles

$204,081

Lake Charles +

Homeownership Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

61.1%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lake Charles, LA	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$225,577	$204,081	Lake Charles +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	61.1%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

660

Lake Charles

643

Lake Charles +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

2507

Jonesboro +

Lake Charles

2824

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lake Charles, LA	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	660	643	Lake Charles +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2507	2824	Jonesboro +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

39.2%

Jonesboro +

Lake Charles

45.6%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.4%

Jonesboro +

Lake Charles

16.2%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Jonesboro

20.5%

Lake Charles

19.7%

Lake Charles +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.6%

Lake Charles

9.6%

Lake Charles +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.1%

Jonesboro +

Lake Charles

15.6%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.7%

Jonesboro +

Lake Charles

18.0%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lake Charles, LA	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	39.2%	45.6%	Jonesboro +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.4%	16.2%	Jonesboro +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	20.5%	19.7%	Lake Charles +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	11.6%	9.6%	Lake Charles +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.1%	15.6%	Jonesboro +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	15.7%	18.0%	Jonesboro +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Lake Charles

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Jonesboro +

Lake Charles

62.4 in

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lake Charles, LA	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	59.2°F	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.2 in	62.4 in	Jonesboro +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Lake Charles

8.9 µg/m³

Lake Charles +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Jonesboro

55.0%

Lake Charles

75.0%

Lake Charles +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lake Charles, LA	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.5 µg/m³	8.9 µg/m³	Lake Charles +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Lake Charles +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Jonesboro

N/A

Lake Charles

19.0 min

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lake Charles, LA	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	19.0 min	-

Which City is Right for You?

Lake Charles offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $204,081. On public safety, Lake Charles is safer with a violent crime rate of 643 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Lake Charles has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Jonesboro scores better with a lower obesity rate of 39.2%.

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About Jonesboro & Lake Charles

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