Lake Charles LA vs North Charleston SC — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Lake Charles, LA

Louisiana · Population: 81,679

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

North Charleston, SC

South Carolina · Population: 117,460

  • Median HH Income$62,789
  • Median Home Price$313,219
  • Unemployment4.3%
  • Bachelor's+28.0%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Lake Charles
81,679
North Charleston
117,460
North Charleston +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Lake Charles
N/A
North Charleston
N/A
Median Age
Lake Charles
36.2
North Charleston
34.3
North Charleston +
Foreign Born
Lake Charles
4.7%
North Charleston
12.2%
North Charleston +
White
Lake Charles
47.3%
Lake Charles +
North Charleston
39.1%
Black
Lake Charles
42.8%
Lake Charles +
North Charleston
42.2%
Asian
Lake Charles
2.6%
North Charleston
3.5%
North Charleston +
Hispanic
Lake Charles
4.7%
North Charleston
12.8%
North Charleston +
Spanish at Home
Lake Charles
N/A
North Charleston
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Lake Charles
$56,864
North Charleston
$62,789
North Charleston +
Per Capita Income
Lake Charles
$35,847
Lake Charles +
North Charleston
$35,740
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Lake Charles
$55,297
Lake Charles +
North Charleston
$54,550
Unemployment Rate
Lake Charles
5.5%
North Charleston
4.3%
North Charleston +
Poverty Rate
Lake Charles
23.2%
North Charleston
15.5%
North Charleston +
Bachelor's Degree+
Lake Charles
29.4%
Lake Charles +
North Charleston
28.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Lake Charles
$204,081
Lake Charles +
North Charleston
$313,219
Homeownership Rate
Lake Charles
61.1%
Lake Charles +
North Charleston
48.5%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lake Charles
643
North Charleston
398
North Charleston +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lake Charles
2824
North Charleston
1999
North Charleston +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Lake Charles
45.6%
North Charleston
35.2%
North Charleston +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Lake Charles
16.2%
North Charleston
13.2%
North Charleston +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Lake Charles
19.7%
North Charleston
17.5%
North Charleston +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Lake Charles
9.6%
Lake Charles +
North Charleston
15.3%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Lake Charles
15.6%
Lake Charles +
North Charleston
19.8%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Lake Charles
18.0%
North Charleston
14.3%
North Charleston +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lake Charles
N/A
North Charleston
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lake Charles
62.4 in
North Charleston
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Lake Charles
8.9 µg/m³
North Charleston
8.6 µg/m³
North Charleston +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Lake Charles
75.0%
North Charleston
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Lake Charles
19.0 min
Lake Charles +
North Charleston
26.8 min

Which City is Right for You?

North Charleston leads in median household income at $62,789, while lake Charles offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $204,081. On public safety, North Charleston is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 643 in Lake Charles. North Charleston has a lower unemployment rate at 4.3%, and North Charleston has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.6 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, North Charleston scores better with a lower obesity rate of 35.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Lake Charles & North Charleston