Lake Charles LA vs North Las Vegas NV — 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 Las Vegas, NV

Nevada · Population: 186,178

Median HH Income$58,874
Median Home Price$407,146
Unemployment9.4%
Bachelor's+23.9%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Lake Charles

81,679

North Las Vegas

186,178

North Las Vegas +

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Lake Charles

N/A

North Las Vegas

N/A

Median Age

Lake Charles

36.2

Lake Charles +

North Las Vegas

39.0

Foreign Born

Lake Charles

4.7%

North Las Vegas

26.0%

North Las Vegas +

White

Lake Charles

47.3%

Lake Charles +

North Las Vegas

43.6%

Black

Lake Charles

42.8%

Lake Charles +

North Las Vegas

11.3%

Asian

Lake Charles

2.6%

North Las Vegas

11.4%

North Las Vegas +

Hispanic

Lake Charles

4.7%

North Las Vegas

34.6%

North Las Vegas +

Spanish at Home

Lake Charles

N/A

North Las Vegas

N/A

Metric	Lake Charles, LA	North Las Vegas, NV	Better
Population	81,679	186,178	North Las Vegas +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	36.2	39.0	Lake Charles +
Foreign Born	4.7%	26.0%	North Las Vegas +
White	47.3%	43.6%	Lake Charles +
Black	42.8%	11.3%	Lake Charles +
Asian	2.6%	11.4%	North Las Vegas +
Hispanic	4.7%	34.6%	North Las Vegas +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Lake Charles

$56,864

North Las Vegas

$58,874

North Las Vegas +

Per Capita Income

Lake Charles

$35,847

Lake Charles +

North Las Vegas

$35,069

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Lake Charles

$55,297

North Las Vegas

$62,696

North Las Vegas +

Unemployment Rate

Lake Charles

5.5%

Lake Charles +

North Las Vegas

9.4%

Poverty Rate

Lake Charles

23.2%

North Las Vegas

16.8%

North Las Vegas +

Bachelor's Degree+

Lake Charles

29.4%

Lake Charles +

North Las Vegas

23.9%

Metric	Lake Charles, LA	North Las Vegas, NV	Better
Median HH Income	$56,864	$58,874	North Las Vegas +
Per Capita Income	$35,847	$35,069	Lake Charles +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$55,297	$62,696	North Las Vegas +
Unemployment Rate	5.5%	9.4%	Lake Charles +
Poverty Rate	23.2%	16.8%	North Las Vegas +
Bachelor's Degree+	29.4%	23.9%	Lake Charles +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Lake Charles

$204,081

Lake Charles +

North Las Vegas

$407,146

Homeownership Rate

Lake Charles

61.1%

Lake Charles +

North Las Vegas

41.2%

Metric	Lake Charles, LA	North Las Vegas, NV	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$204,081	$407,146	Lake Charles +
Homeownership Rate	61.1%	41.2%	Lake Charles +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Lake Charles

643

North Las Vegas

460

North Las Vegas +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Lake Charles

2824

North Las Vegas

2417

North Las Vegas +

Metric	Lake Charles, LA	North Las Vegas, NV	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	643	460	North Las Vegas +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2824	2417	North Las Vegas +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Lake Charles

45.6%

North Las Vegas

33.8%

North Las Vegas +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Lake Charles

16.2%

North Las Vegas

12.2%

North Las Vegas +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Lake Charles

19.7%

Lake Charles +

North Las Vegas

20.7%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Lake Charles

9.6%

Lake Charles +

North Las Vegas

19.6%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Lake Charles

15.6%

North Las Vegas

15.6%

Tie

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Lake Charles

18.0%

North Las Vegas

16.1%

North Las Vegas +

Metric	Lake Charles, LA	North Las Vegas, NV	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	45.6%	33.8%	North Las Vegas +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	16.2%	12.2%	North Las Vegas +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	19.7%	20.7%	Lake Charles +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	9.6%	19.6%	Lake Charles +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.6%	15.6%	Tie
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	18.0%	16.1%	North Las Vegas +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Lake Charles

N/A

North Las Vegas

68.8°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Lake Charles

62.4 in

North Las Vegas

4.7 in

North Las Vegas +

Metric	Lake Charles, LA	North Las Vegas, NV	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	N/A	68.8°F	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	62.4 in	4.7 in	North Las Vegas +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Lake Charles

8.9 µg/m³

North Las Vegas

5.2 µg/m³

North Las Vegas +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Lake Charles

75.0%

North Las Vegas

75.0%

Tie

Metric	Lake Charles, LA	North Las Vegas, NV	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	8.9 µg/m³	5.2 µg/m³	North Las Vegas +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	75.0%	Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Lake Charles

19.0 min

Lake Charles +

North Las Vegas

24.6 min

Metric	Lake Charles, LA	North Las Vegas, NV	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	19.0 min	24.6 min	Lake Charles +

Which City is Right for You?

North Las Vegas leads in median household income at $58,874, while lake Charles offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $204,081. On public safety, North Las Vegas is safer with a violent crime rate of 460 per 100,000 residents, compared to 643 in Lake Charles. Lake Charles has a lower unemployment rate at 5.5%, and North Las Vegas has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 5.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, North Las Vegas scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.8%.

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About Lake Charles & North Las Vegas

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