Area data
Lake charles, LA — ZIP 70601
Population: 30,872 (Census ACS)
The median home value in ZIP 70601 (Lake charles, LA) is $103,062 — down 5.3% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $135,000 after a median 161 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,056/month. 12 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with hurricane, lightning, coastalflooding the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 9.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$103,062
Median home value
-5.3%
1-year change
161
Median days on market
Relatively High
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $103,062
- 1-year appreciation
- -5.3%
- 3-year appreciation
- -27.7%
- 5-year appreciation
- -42.6%
- 10-year appreciation
- -45.3%
- All-time peak (2020-10)
- $210,572
- House Price Index (state)
- 368.9 (+2.6% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $135,000
- Median list price
- $194,900
- Median price per sqft
- $95
- 1-year sale-price change
- -39.5%
- Median days on market
- 161 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 1
- For-sale inventory
- 119
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 100.0%
- Active listings
- 9
- 1-year forecast
- -5.6%
- Days to pending
- 147 days
- New listings (monthly)
- 20
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $1,056/mo
- 1-year rent change
- +11.0%
- Studio fair-market rent
- $677/mo
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $846/mo
- 2BR fair-market rent
- $1,031/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $1,340/mo
- 4BR fair-market rent
- $1,546/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Below Average)
- 90.5 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 12.6¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $17.40/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 12
- Elementary schools
- 8
- Middle schools
- 2
- High schools
- 1
- Schools include
- Barbe Elementary School, Jessie D. Clifton Elementary School, T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School, John J. Johnson II Elementary School, Ray D. Molo Middle Magnet School
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively High
- Top hazards (county)
- hurricane, lightning, coastalFlooding, coldWave, iceStorm
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- coastalFlooding: Relatively High · coldWave: Relatively High · drought: Relatively Moderate · earthquake: Relatively Low · hail: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Moderate
- FEMA flood zone
- X
- Flood risk level
- Minimal
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 84% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 33.9%
- Radon potential (county)
- Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- 1
- Nearest Superfund site
- Gulf State Utilities-North Ryan Street (1 mi — proposed for listing)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Annual precipitation
- 65.3 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 9a (extreme annual low 20 to 25°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Moderate
- Median AQI (annual)
- 54
- Days with Good air quality
- 139
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 221
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 133
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 9.2 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- -99,999
- Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
- 32,938
- Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
- 23,297
Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)
Amenities
- Airports within 30 mi
- 25
- Nearest airport
- Chennault International Airport (CWF) (5 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH) (7 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 3
- Hospitals include
- CHRISTUS OCHSNER ST PATRICK HOSPITAL, LAKE CHARLES MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, STONEBRIDGE BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 4.0 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 4.0 / 5
- Solar radiation rating
- Good (4.5 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- -566 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,973
- Housing built before 1970
- 46.3%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 25.9%
- Median annual property tax
- $343
- Households with broadband internet
- 63.4%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 75,000
- Average weekly wage
- $1,192
- Top industries (by employment)
- Accommodation & Food, Health Care, Construction
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 829
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| ZIP 70601 | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,062 | $186,662 | $289,727 |
| Median sale price | $135,000 | $225,000 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 161 days | 74 days | 51 days |
| Typical rent | $1,056/mo | $1,469/mo | $1,808/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $343 | $576 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in ZIP 70601?
- $103,062.
- What is the median sale price in ZIP 70601?
- $135,000.
- How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 70601?
- Median days on market: 161 days.
- What is typical rent in ZIP 70601?
- Typical rent: $1,056/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 70601?
- Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: hurricane, lightning, coastalFlooding, coldWave, iceStorm.
- Is ZIP 70601 in a flood zone?
- Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
- What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 70601?
- Risk to homes is higher than 84% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in ZIP 70601?
- Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 70601?
- 1 current or proposed National Priorities List site within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Gulf State Utilities-North Ryan Street, 1 mi.
- How many schools serve ZIP 70601?
- 12 schools (8 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- Is ZIP 70601 walkable?
- Walkability index: 9.2/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
- What is the air quality in ZIP 70601?
- Moderate. Median AQI: 54. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in ZIP 70601?
- Regional Price Parity: 90.5 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
Nearby ZIP codes
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →