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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).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$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)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

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 70601State medianUS median
Median home value$103,062$186,662$289,727
Median sale price$135,000$225,000$325,000
Median days on market161 days74 days51 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 →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents