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LA area data

Lake charles, LA

Aggregated across 6 ZIP codes in Lake charles.

Population: 133,895 (Census ACS)

The median home value in Lake charles, LA is $196,233 — up 1.0% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $174,900 after a median 92 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,179/month. 36 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 9.9% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

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

$196,233

Median home value

+1.0%

1-year change

92

Median days on market

Relatively High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$196,233
1-year appreciation
+1.0%
3-year appreciation
-7.3%
5-year appreciation
-12.1%
10-year appreciation
-7.4%
All-time peak (2020-10)
$241,262
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
$174,900
Median list price
$190,480
Median price per sqft
$110
1-year sale-price change
-8.1%
Median days on market
92 days
Homes sold (recent period)
36
For-sale inventory
453
Sale-to-list ratio
97.0%
Active listings
44
1-year forecast
-3.8%
Days to pending
114 days
New listings (monthly)
91

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$1,179/mo
1-year rent change
+20.2%
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)
90.1 (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
36
Elementary schools
23
Middle schools
5
High schools
6
Charter schools
3
School districts serving the area
Calcasieu Parish, Lake Charles Charter Academy Foundation Inc., Southwest Louisiana Charter Academy
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 (varies by location)
includes 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)

Average annual temperature
75.3°F
Average high
79.7°F
Average low
71.3°F
Annual precipitation
60.3 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)
53
Days with Good air quality
148
Days with Moderate air quality
212
Highest AQI recorded (year)
135

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
7.1 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
22,730
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
18,563

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
152
Nearest airport
Chloe Airport (1 mi)
Nearest major airport
Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH) (3 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
117
Hospitals include
CHRISTUS OCHSNER ST PATRICK HOSPITAL, LAKE CHARLES MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, STONEBRIDGE BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.4 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.4 / 5
EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
2
Solar radiation rating
Good (4.6 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
1,988
Housing built before 1970
25.9%
Housing built 2000 or later
37.4%
Median annual property tax
$908
Mean commute to work
22 min
Households with broadband internet
68.2%

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

Lake charlesState medianUS median
Median home value$196,233$186,662$289,727
Median sale price$174,900$225,000$325,000
Median days on market92 days74 days51 days
Typical rent$1,179/mo$1,469/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$908$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 Lake charles, LA?
$196,233.
What is the median sale price in Lake charles, LA?
$174,900.
How long do homes take to sell in Lake charles, LA?
Median days on market: 92 days.
What is typical rent in Lake charles, LA?
Typical rent: $1,179/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Lake charles, LA?
Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: hurricane, lightning, coastalFlooding, coldWave, iceStorm.
Is Lake charles, LA in a flood zone?
Minimal (FEMA NFIP). Parts of the area include FEMA flood zone X; zones vary by location within the city.
What is the wildfire risk in Lake charles, LA?
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 Lake charles, LA?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Lake charles, LA?
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 Lake charles, LA?
36 schools (23 elementary, 5 middle, 6 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is Lake charles, LA walkable?
Walkability index: 7.1/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Lake charles, LA?
Moderate. Median AQI: 53. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Lake charles, LA?
Regional Price Parity: 90.1 (100 = US average) (Below Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP codes in Lake charles

Selling a home in Lake charles, LA?

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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