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

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%

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%

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 +

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 +

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 +

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Lake Charles
19.0 min
Lake Charles +
North Las Vegas
24.6 min

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%.

Compare More Cities

About Lake Charles & North Las Vegas