CityCompare

Lake Charles LA vs West Palm Beach 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%

West Palm Beach, FL

Florida · Population: 119,508

  • Median HH Income$69,261
  • Median Home Price$399,650
  • Unemployment5.4%
  • Bachelor's+37.6%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Lake Charles
81,679
West Palm Beach
119,508
West Palm Beach +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Lake Charles
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A
Median Age
Lake Charles
36.2
Lake Charles +
West Palm Beach
40.2
Foreign Born
Lake Charles
4.7%
West Palm Beach
27.2%
West Palm Beach +
White
Lake Charles
47.3%
Lake Charles +
West Palm Beach
44.0%
Black
Lake Charles
42.8%
Lake Charles +
West Palm Beach
31.5%
Asian
Lake Charles
2.6%
Lake Charles +
West Palm Beach
2.5%
Hispanic
Lake Charles
4.7%
West Palm Beach
24.6%
West Palm Beach +
Spanish at Home
Lake Charles
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Lake Charles
$56,864
West Palm Beach
$69,261
West Palm Beach +
Per Capita Income
Lake Charles
$35,847
West Palm Beach
$44,508
West Palm Beach +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Lake Charles
$55,297
West Palm Beach
$65,328
West Palm Beach +
Unemployment Rate
Lake Charles
5.5%
West Palm Beach
5.4%
West Palm Beach +
Poverty Rate
Lake Charles
23.2%
West Palm Beach
14.8%
West Palm Beach +
Bachelor's Degree+
Lake Charles
29.4%
West Palm Beach
37.6%
West Palm Beach +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Lake Charles
$204,081
Lake Charles +
West Palm Beach
$399,650
Homeownership Rate
Lake Charles
61.1%
Lake Charles +
West Palm Beach
50.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lake Charles
643
West Palm Beach
324
West Palm Beach +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lake Charles
2824
West Palm Beach
1453
West Palm Beach +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Lake Charles
45.6%
West Palm Beach
29.1%
West Palm Beach +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Lake Charles
16.2%
West Palm Beach
13.7%
West Palm Beach +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Lake Charles
19.7%
West Palm Beach
16.4%
West Palm Beach +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Lake Charles
9.6%
Lake Charles +
West Palm Beach
16.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Lake Charles
15.6%
West Palm Beach
13.3%
West Palm Beach +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Lake Charles
18.0%
West Palm Beach
13.0%
West Palm Beach +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lake Charles
N/A
West Palm Beach
75.4°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lake Charles
62.4 in
West Palm Beach
62.3 in
West Palm Beach +

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Lake Charles
19.0 min
Lake Charles +
West Palm Beach
25.0 min

Which City is Right for You?

West Palm Beach leads in median household income at $69,261, while lake Charles offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $204,081. On public safety, West Palm Beach is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 643 in Lake Charles. West Palm Beach has a lower unemployment rate at 5.4%, and West Palm Beach has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, West Palm Beach scores better with a lower obesity rate of 29.1%.

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About Lake Charles & West Palm Beach

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