Population 119,832 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Lake Charles
Household size in Lake Charles
| Period | Lake Charles | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.53 | 2.66 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.46 | 2.64 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.69 | 2.59 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.16 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
At 2.69 people per household, Lake Charles sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Louisiana overall, where it has 2.59 people. Household size has climbed from 2.53 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Lake Charles
| Period | Lake Charles | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.3 | 36.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.3 | 37.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.0 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.2 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.9 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Lake Charles is 37.2 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 36.3, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the southeast and oldest in the west.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Lake Charles
| Period | Lake Charles | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 14.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.9% | 15.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 16.0% | 14.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 15.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +0.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in Lake Charles than nationally: 14.1%, against 11.6%. Still, single parents are less common here than in Louisiana as a whole (15.2%). The single-parent share has edged up 1.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Lake Charles
Renters in Lake Charles
| Period | Lake Charles | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.0% | 31.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.3% | 33.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.7% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.3% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Lake Charles is about as common as it is nationally: 32.3% of households rent, against 34.8%. Nearly half of owners (48.5%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 0.7 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Lake Charles
| Period | Lake Charles | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.3% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 13.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 15.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.0% | 14.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 19.0% of the housing in Lake Charles, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 5.7 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Lake Charles
| Period | Lake Charles | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Lake Charles is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1988, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Lake Charles
| Period | Lake Charles | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $733 | $755 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $800 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $929 | $920 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,205 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$472 | +$366 | +$606 |
The median renter in Lake Charles pays $1,205 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are higher than in Louisiana overall ($1,122). Rent has climbed $472 a month since 2006–10, up 64%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 36.0% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Lake Charles
Bachelor's degrees in Lake Charles
| Period | Lake Charles | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.1% | 22.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.5% | 22.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.0% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.0% | 27.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Lake Charles than nationally: 29.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the east.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Lake Charles
| Period | Lake Charles | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.7% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.3% | 83.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.0% | 85.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.0% | 87.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +5.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Lake Charles have finished high school as nationally: 90.0%, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in Louisiana as a whole (87.2%). The share with a diploma is up 7.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Lake Charles
| Period | Lake Charles | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 6.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Lake Charles than nationally: unemployment was 6.4%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Lake Charles compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | 2.69 | 37.2 | 14.1% | 32.3% | 19.0% | 1988 | $1,205 | 29.0% | 90.0% | 6.4% |
| Westlake | 2.53 | 41.5 | 14.1% | 20.7% | 17.4% | 1987 | $1,052 | 17.2% | 89.0% | 2.5% |
| Holmwood | 2.82 | 38.0 | 4.8% | 4.8% | 13.6% | 2012 | $1,576 | 15.7% | 99.3% | 9.0% |
| Sulphur | 2.90 | 37.6 | 11.8% | 17.7% | 16.7% | 1988 | $1,107 | 20.0% | 89.1% | 4.8% |
| Carlyss | 2.44 | 33.8 | 22.2% | 27.2% | 18.5% | 2011 | $1,440 | 16.9% | 73.7% | 2.5% |
| Iowa | 2.99 | 39.1 | 18.5% | 15.9% | 21.4% | 2004 | $1,218 | 26.5% | 91.9% | 5.7% |
| Manchester | 3.06 | 38.5 | 8.1% | 16.4% | 15.2% | 2001 | $1,325 | 25.6% | 94.3% | 12.8% |
| Sweet Lake | 2.71 | 40.2 | 24.3% | 1.2% | 28.8% | 2006 | $1,253 | 15.3% | 94.7% | 2.2% |
| Bell City | 3.11 | 37.8 | 7.9% | 1.5% | 13.5% | 1976 | $1,583 | 20.4% | 92.1% | 6.7% |
| Woodlawn | 2.98 | 43.4 | 2.1% | 2.8% | 17.5% | 2001 | $1,164 | 24.1% | 91.6% | 1.9% |
| Hayes | 3.18 | 35.6 | 4.7% | 3.8% | 15.6% | 1974 | $1,465 | 25.1% | 92.4% | 7.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Idaho Falls, ID · Kenosha, WI · Janesville, WI · Jupiter, FL · Katy, TX · Jonesboro, AR · Huntsville, AL · Irving, TX · Irvine, CA · Indio, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Lake Charles. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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