Best Life Index › States › Louisiana › Cities › Lake Charles

Louisiana city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Lake Charles?

What it costs to live in Lake Charles, and how it compares with other Louisiana cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

49

15th best value in Louisiana

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Louisiana cities.

Overall livability

50

14th overall in Louisiana

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Lake Charles is home to about 83,444 people. A typical home runs $169,300 and a household earns around $49,900, a price-to-income ratio of 3.4. Among Louisiana's largest cities, it ranks 15th for value and 14th overall.

Lake Charles at a glance

Median home price

$169,300

17th in LA of 32

Median rent

$892/mo

Median household income

$49,900

Home price to income

3.4x

Unemployment

5.8%

12th in LA of 32

School rating

3/10

18th in LA of 32

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in LA of 32

Walk score

9/100

See your real take-home pay in Louisiana

Enter your salary and see your paycheck after Louisiana taxes.

Calculate my take-home pay ›

‹ See all top Louisiana cities ranked  ยท  Louisiana state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Louisiana only. Updated 2026.