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Lake Charles LA vs Port St. Lucie FL — 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%

Port St. Lucie, FL

Florida · Population: 220,453

  • Median HH Income$78,137
  • Median Home Price$327,700
  • Unemployment5.5%
  • Bachelor's+26.8%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Lake Charles
81,679
Port St. Lucie
220,453
Port St. Lucie +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Lake Charles
N/A
Port St. Lucie
N/A
Median Age
Lake Charles
36.2
Lake Charles +
Port St. Lucie
43.7
Foreign Born
Lake Charles
4.7%
Port St. Lucie
19.5%
Port St. Lucie +
White
Lake Charles
47.3%
Port St. Lucie
60.0%
Port St. Lucie +
Black
Lake Charles
42.8%
Lake Charles +
Port St. Lucie
19.2%
Asian
Lake Charles
2.6%
Lake Charles +
Port St. Lucie
2.2%
Hispanic
Lake Charles
4.7%
Port St. Lucie
23.0%
Port St. Lucie +
Spanish at Home
Lake Charles
N/A
Port St. Lucie
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Lake Charles
$56,864
Port St. Lucie
$78,137
Port St. Lucie +
Per Capita Income
Lake Charles
$35,847
Port St. Lucie
$36,352
Port St. Lucie +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Lake Charles
$55,297
Port St. Lucie
$65,328
Port St. Lucie +
Unemployment Rate
Lake Charles
5.5%
Port St. Lucie
5.5%
Tie
Poverty Rate
Lake Charles
23.2%
Port St. Lucie
8.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Bachelor's Degree+
Lake Charles
29.4%
Lake Charles +
Port St. Lucie
26.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Lake Charles
$204,081
Lake Charles +
Port St. Lucie
$327,700
Homeownership Rate
Lake Charles
61.1%
Port St. Lucie
83.2%
Port St. Lucie +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lake Charles
643
Port St. Lucie
324
Port St. Lucie +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lake Charles
2824
Port St. Lucie
1453
Port St. Lucie +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Lake Charles
45.6%
Port St. Lucie
30.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Lake Charles
16.2%
Port St. Lucie
13.1%
Port St. Lucie +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Lake Charles
19.7%
Port St. Lucie
16.6%
Port St. Lucie +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Lake Charles
9.6%
Lake Charles +
Port St. Lucie
14.5%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Lake Charles
15.6%
Port St. Lucie
14.5%
Port St. Lucie +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Lake Charles
18.0%
Port St. Lucie
12.9%
Port St. Lucie +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lake Charles
N/A
Port St. Lucie
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lake Charles
62.4 in
Port St. Lucie
N/A

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Lake Charles
19.0 min
Lake Charles +
Port St. Lucie
32.0 min

Which City is Right for You?

Port St. Lucie leads in median household income at $78,137, while lake Charles offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $204,081. On public safety, Port St. Lucie is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 643 in Lake Charles. Port St. Lucie has a lower unemployment rate at 5.5%, and Port St. Lucie has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Port St. Lucie scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.5%.

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About Lake Charles & Port St. Lucie

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