Lake Charles, LA metro area
The Lake Charles metro area, officially Lake Charles, LA, is home to 246,535 people, up 18.1% since 2021. In 2025 its typical household earned $66,493, below the U.S. median of $84,780, and the median rent was $1,101 a month.
Compare Lake Charles with another metro ↗ See the national rent report ↗
What it takes to live here
Rent and home prices measured against what local households earn.
To keep rent at the common guideline of 30% of income, a household would need about $44,000 a year to afford the median rent in the Lake Charles area (U.S.: $62,300). In practice, the typical renter here spends 28.7% of household income on rent, the 275th highest share of 393 metro areas, and 46% of renter households pay 30% or more (U.S.: 52%).
For buyers, the median home value of $208,300 is 3.1 times the median household income, compared with 4.4 times nationally, which is relatively affordable by national standards.
How it has changed
Change since 2021 compared with the whole United States.
Since 2021, rent in the Lake Charles area has risen +11.4% while household income changed +13.2%. Rents and incomes have moved roughly together.
| 2021 | 2024 | 2025 | Change since 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $58,736 | $65,144 | $66,493 | +13.2% |
| Median rent | $988 | $977 | $1,101 | +11.4% |
| Median home value | $207,500 | $213,100 | $208,300 | +0.4% |
| Population | 208,680 | 243,719 | 246,535 | +18.1% |
Who lives and works here
Education, jobs and commuting compared with the national picture.
| Lake Charles | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 39.5 |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher | 22.8% | 37.4% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 4.9% |
| Poverty rate | 16.8% | 11.8% |
| Workers who work from home | — | 12.9% |
| Average one-way commute | 23.3 min | 27.4 min |
| Households that rent | 28% | 35% |
Where Lake Charles ranks
Position among all 393 U.S. metropolitan areas with 2025 1-year data.
| Measure | Rank among 393 U.S. metro areas |
|---|---|
| Median household income | 308th highest |
| Median rent | 288th highest |
| Median home value | 340th highest |
| Rent as share of income | 275th highest |
| Population | 201st largest |
| Population growth since 2021 | 11th fastest |
Similar-sized metro areas
The metros closest in population, side by side.
| Metro area | Income | Rent | Home value | Rent / income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LA | $66,493 | $1,101 | $208,300 | 28.7% |
| Appleton, WI | $86,266 | $1,213 | $315,700 | 27.5% |
| Binghamton, NY | $68,899 | $1,074 | $178,100 | 31.0% |
| Aguadilla, PR | $27,269 | $662 | $169,300 | 28.6% |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | $84,390 | $1,875 | $508,000 | 39.9% |
| Champaign, IL | $61,076 | $1,157 | $224,900 | 33.3% |
| Tyler, TX | $77,350 | $1,443 | $288,000 | 28.8% |
Lake Charles at a glance
What salary do you need to live in Lake Charles?+
To pay the 2025 median rent of $1,101 a month while spending no more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $44,000 a year. The median household income in the Lake Charles metro area is $66,493.
How much is rent in Lake Charles?+
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in the Lake Charles metro area was $1,101 a month in 2025, according to the Census Bureau, compared with $1,557 nationally. It has changed +11.4% since 2021.
Is Lake Charles affordable?+
Renters in the Lake Charles area spend a median 28.7% of income on rent (U.S. 30.9%), and the median home costs 3.1 times the median income (U.S. 4.4). By both measures it is more affordable than the national average.
What is the median household income in Lake Charles?+
$66,493 in 2025, +13.2% since 2021. That ranks 308th of 393 U.S. metro areas.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 1-year estimates (released September 2026), with 2024 and 2021 for trends. Figures are survey estimates with margins of error; small differences between metros may not be meaningful. Metro areas use the official Metropolitan Statistical Area boundaries. Compiled and analyzed by Metro Research. Methodology.