Economy, jobs and prices in Lake Charles, Louisiana: official figures
The median household income in Lake Charles was $59,235 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 132nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Louisiana median $60,756.
What is the per capita income in Lake Charles?
Income per resident (per capita income) in Lake Charles averaged $35,860 a year in 2020-2024, 270th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Louisiana: $35,038).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Lake Charles?
Lake Charles' Gini index of household income inequality was 0.527 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 33rd most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
6.6% of the civilian labor force in Lake Charles was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (2,654 people), 180th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Louisiana's 6.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Lake Charles have jobs?
37,303 residents of Lake Charles held civilian jobs, 57.2% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 113 served in the armed forces.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Lake Charles?
The largest industry group for working residents of Lake Charles was education, health care and social assistance (28.3% of employed residents), followed by retail trade (13.4%) and arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (11.3%), 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Lake Charles work in manufacturing?
Manufacturing employed 6.9% of working residents of Lake Charles, 253rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 7.6% (US: 12.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow long is the commute in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
Commuters in Lake Charles took 17.0 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 45th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 3.1% travelled an hour or more and 45.1% less than 15 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow do people in Lake Charles get to work?
5.0% of workers living in Lake Charles worked from home in 2020-2024, 15th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 80.2% drove to work alone, 10.7% carpooled, 0.1% used public transport and 2.4% walked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the average rent in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Lake Charles was $1,109 a month in 2020-2024, 145th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Louisiana: $1,064).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does a house cost in Lake Charles?
Owner-occupied homes in Lake Charles had a median value of $214,300 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 133rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Louisiana: $216,500).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow affordable are homes in Lake Charles?
The median home value in Lake Charles was 3.6 times the median household income, 224th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Lake Charles have no internet?
11.6% of households in Lake Charles (3,736) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 15th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 15.0% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Lake Charles compares with other cities in the United States
Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 692 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median household income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 689 | Peoria | $59,410 |
| 690 | Bryan | $59,289 |
| 691 | Winston-Salem | $59,268 |
| 692 | Lake Charles | $59,235 |
| 693 | Sherman | $58,859 |
| 694 | Bridgeport | $58,685 |
| 695 | Wilmington | $58,671 |
Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 554 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Per capita income (2024 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 551 | Tamarac | $35,893 |
| 552 | Chicopee | $35,887 |
| 553 | Orem | $35,876 |
| 554 | Lake Charles | $35,860 |
| 555 | Brockton | $35,830 |
| 556 | Idaho Falls | $35,811 |
| 557 | Lake Elsinore | $35,809 |
Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 33 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Boston | 0.531 |
| 31 | New Rochelle | 0.529 |
| 32 | Edina | 0.529 |
| 33 | Lake Charles | 0.527 |
| 34 | New Haven | 0.527 |
| 35 | Davis | 0.527 |
| 36 | Los Angeles | 0.526 |
Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 180 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) |
|---|---|---|
| 177 | Chico | 6.8% |
| 178 | Citrus Heights | 6.7% |
| 179 | Santa Monica | 6.7% |
| 180 | Lake Charles | 6.6% |
| 181 | Temple | 6.6% |
| 182 | Bloomington | 6.6% |
| 183 | Little Elm | 6.6% |
Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 664 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Labor force participation rate (16 and over) |
|---|---|---|
| 661 | Pinellas Park | 61.5% |
| 662 | Winston-Salem | 61.5% |
| 663 | Cathedral City | 61.5% |
| 664 | Lake Charles | 61.5% |
| 665 | El Monte | 61.5% |
| 666 | Trenton | 61.4% |
| 667 | Baldwin Park | 61.4% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 779 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Mean travel time to work (minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 776 | St. George | 17.2 |
| 777 | Owensboro | 17.1 |
| 778 | Harrisonburg | 17.1 |
| 779 | Lake Charles | 17.0 |
| 780 | Casper | 17.0 |
| 781 | Sioux Falls | 17.0 |
| 782 | St. Joseph | 17.0 |
Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 809 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers who worked from home |
|---|---|---|
| 806 | Compton | 5.0% |
| 807 | Dothan | 5.0% |
| 808 | Sioux City | 5.0% |
| 809 | Lake Charles | 5.0% |
| 810 | Perth Amboy | 4.8% |
| 811 | Pontiac | 4.8% |
| 812 | Santa Maria | 4.7% |
Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 777 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Workers commuting by public transportation |
|---|---|---|
| 774 | Delano | 0.1% |
| 775 | Southaven | 0.1% |
| 776 | Little Elm | 0.1% |
| 777 | Lake Charles | 0.1% |
| 778 | Columbia | 0.1% |
| 779 | Casa Grande | 0.1% |
| 780 | Wellington | 0.1% |
Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 571 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents working in manufacturing |
|---|---|---|
| 568 | Lawrence | 7.0% |
| 569 | Parker | 7.0% |
| 570 | Castle Rock | 7.0% |
| 571 | Lake Charles | 6.9% |
| 572 | Union City | 6.9% |
| 573 | Nashville | 6.9% |
| 574 | West Des Moines | 6.9% |
Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 110 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 107 | Springfield | 28.4% |
| 108 | Vineland | 28.4% |
| 109 | Little Rock | 28.3% |
| 110 | Lake Charles | 28.3% |
| 111 | Baton Rouge | 28.3% |
| 112 | Turlock | 28.2% |
| 113 | Hempstead | 28.1% |
Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 679 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median gross rent per month |
|---|---|---|
| 676 | High Point | $1,116 |
| 677 | Yuma | $1,114 |
| 678 | Independence | $1,109 |
| 679 | Lake Charles | $1,109 |
| 680 | Rapid City | $1,109 |
| 681 | Birmingham | $1,107 |
| 682 | Bossier City | $1,107 |
Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 691 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median value of owner-occupied homes |
|---|---|---|
| 688 | Texas City | $217,300 |
| 689 | Jeffersonville | $216,800 |
| 690 | Killeen | $215,400 |
| 691 | Lake Charles | $214,300 |
| 692 | Normal | $213,600 |
| 693 | Lubbock | $212,400 |
| 694 | Champaign | $210,900 |
Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 597 of 820, highest first.
| Rank | City | Median home value as a multiple of median household income |
|---|---|---|
| 594 | San Antonio | 3.6x |
| 595 | Bossier City | 3.6x |
| 596 | Grand Prairie | 3.6x |
| 597 | Lake Charles | 3.6x |
| 598 | Mobile | 3.6x |
| 599 | Kentwood | 3.6x |
| 600 | Springfield | 3.6x |
Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 345 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Occupied homes lived in by their owners |
|---|---|---|
| 342 | Kansas City | 60.9% |
| 343 | Greeley | 60.9% |
| 344 | Independence | 60.9% |
| 345 | Lake Charles | 60.9% |
| 346 | Colorado Springs | 60.9% |
| 347 | Fremont | 60.8% |
| 348 | Kirkland | 60.8% |
Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 791 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with a broadband subscription |
|---|---|---|
| 788 | Gainesville | 85.6% |
| 789 | Dayton | 85.5% |
| 790 | Fort Smith | 85.4% |
| 791 | Lake Charles | 85.4% |
| 792 | Baltimore | 85.4% |
| 793 | Waterbury | 85.3% |
| 794 | San Marcos | 85.3% |
Households with no internet access (2020-2024)
Lake Charles ranks 15 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Households with no internet access |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Council Bluffs | 11.8% |
| 13 | Bossier City | 11.8% |
| 14 | Gulfport | 11.8% |
| 15 | Lake Charles | 11.6% |
| 16 | Fort Smith | 11.5% |
| 17 | Fort Pierce | 11.5% |
| 18 | Miami | 11.4% |
More on Lake Charles: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08013: Aggregate Travel Time to Work (in Minutes) of Workers by Sex (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 6939fdfa046fd5bb829ec8da9549e66298cc740f6a3f5dd60e1920a08e3083fb), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f94e7878b6a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B23025: Employment Status for the Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 264a5bd9367c5f58d9773fa4966fa94fe1e02f9c7106bc2ab39168d6de7c3e4a), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2630e6946370…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini Index of Income Inequality (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 338f7a1191eaaf3913913e78c36aaa9d82f2b5c8faaf889be2e597b28869205e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b8cf854b1f94…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C24030: Sex by Industry for the Civilian Employed Population 16 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 66a2799a71a5fc36f0e3bc22767fe5bdd8f96eb29e85b91311e990d35cc14114), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5d717c57e7e4…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19013: Median Household Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b25a176b0e6c339b6f3a2a0d3d8446bf06f5f080b4395993ec9a8313efb1c229), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d8a264807c6…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B08301: Means of Transportation to Work (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 552b24c135b6e7c566910914a861cda6fc798ba0cd47801b1eb64295a128c2ee), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 eaf823006d53…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B19301: Per Capita Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 9fc107e98fee7fa49bb8314560205569184fad65fb64b80adb5c5bdd83ccc409), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 24c1e725b26a…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25064: Median Gross Rent (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 b36e6dc1fcef36b8b307d31b37517b64c80d8b9c70d48c9b1894242860f42eb0), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b842a7ff825c…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25077: Median Value (Dollars) (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 89eb2153764a2330b23959d8bbc29b3a8f3016f087b990f2a8ea0d5096d9a816), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 22b59a3b1acb…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B28002: Presence and Types of Internet Subscriptions in Household (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 12446ff0691b8818f5908cdc398817361772c5b3078c506d0409adc9c841840b), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4b375b368bf9…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25003: Tenure (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 68e963e1ed60fcf6b0658579cefc6498b7a9eb780b9f3e87fd1b9775c4d4ac6c), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2983c28f47fa…)
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