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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 $197,225 — up 0.7% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $233,869 after a median 73 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,203/month. 34 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 11.8% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

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

$197,225

Median home value

+0.7%

1-year change

73

Median days on market

Relatively High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$197,225
1-year appreciation
+0.7%
3-year appreciation
-6.4%
5-year appreciation
-12.0%
10-year appreciation
-7.2%
All-time peak (2020-10)
$243,122
House Price Index (state)
372.3 (+1.6% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$233,869
Median list price
$231,432
Median price per sqft
$127
1-year sale-price change
+19.6%
Median days on market
73 days
Homes sold (recent period)
92
For-sale inventory
482
Sale-to-list ratio
98.0%
Active listings
95
1-year forecast
-2.3%
Days to pending
118 days
New listings (monthly)
130

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

Rents

Typical rent
$1,203/mo
1-year rent change
+19.2%
Studio fair-market rent
$935/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$941/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,231/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,467/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,713/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Low)
88.2 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
12.6¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$17.40/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
34
Elementary schools
23
Middle schools
5
High schools
6
Charter schools
3
Avg student-teacher ratio
12.8 : 1
School districts serving the area
Calcasieu Parish, Lake Charles Charter Academy Foundation Inc., Southwest Louisiana Charter Academy
Schools include
Barbe Elementary School, T. S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School, John J. Johnson II Elementary School, Ray D. Molo Middle Magnet School, Oak Park Elementary 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)
hail: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively Moderate · tornado: Relatively High · coldWave: Relatively High · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · iceStorm: Relatively High
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
71.8°F
Average high
78.3°F
Average low
64.8°F
Annual precipitation
63.0 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
Good
Median AQI (annual)
47
Days with Good air quality
227
Days with Moderate air quality
135
Highest AQI recorded (year)
108

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)
9
Hospitals include
CHRISTUS OCHSNER ST PATRICK HOSPITAL, LAKE CHARLES MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, STONEBRIDGE BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
3.8 / 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
76,142
Average weekly wage
$1,240
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Administrative Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
468

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

Lake charlesState medianUS median
Median home value$197,225$189,522$288,527
Median sale price$233,869$225,000$325,000
Median days on market73 days74 days51 days
Typical rent$1,203/mo$1,462/mo$1,809/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?
$197,225.
What is the median sale price in Lake charles, LA?
$233,869.
How long do homes take to sell in Lake charles, LA?
Median days on market: 73 days.
What is typical rent in Lake charles, LA?
Typical rent: $1,203/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?
34 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?
Good. Median AQI: 47. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Lake charles, LA?
Regional Price Parity: 88.2 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP codes in Lake charles

Listing a home in Lake charles, LA?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

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