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Neighborhood report

Lake Charles, LA

Founded 1861Calcasieu ParishElev. 3 m
Population
81,679
Median home
$204,000
Disaster risk
Relatively High
Public schools
36
Sex offenders
16

Overview

About Lake Charles

Lake Charles is a city in Louisiana with about 81,679 residents. Lake Charles was founded in 1861 and sits in Calcasieu Parish. The median age is 36.2 and the median household income is $56,864. Homes carry a median value of $204,000, and about 61% of residents own where they live. White residents make up the largest share of the population (46.5%). Around 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the typical commute runs about 18 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

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Who lives here

Demographics

Population
81,679
Median age
36.2
Median household income
$56,864
Per-capita income
$35,847
Poverty rate
23.2%
High-school grad or higher
90.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher
29.4%
Unemployment
5.5%
Avg. commute
17.9 min
Work from home
4.8%
Residents by race & ethnicity
White46.5%
Hispanic or Latino4.7%
Black42.8%
Asian2.5%
Workforce by occupation
Management, business, science & arts39.9%
Service22.4%
Sales & office19.9%
Production, transportation & material moving9.9%
Natural resources, construction & maintenance7.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year).

Housing

Property report

Median home value
$204,000
Median gross rent
$1,090/mo
Owner-occupied
61.1%
Median year built
1979
Households
31,845
Avg. household size
2.49

Area-level figures. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (5-year). Parcel-level records coming next.

Education

Schools

Schools: Average

Lake Charles has 36 public schools — 23 elementary, 5 middle, 6 high.

Student proficiency · grade 8, 8 schools
Reading76%
Math54%

% of students at or above proficient on state assessments.

Alfred M. Barbe High SchoolHighGrades 9–12
Grand Lake High SchoolHighGrades 7–12
LaGrange High SchoolHighGrades 9–12
Lake Charles College PrepHighGrades 9–12charter
Sam Houston High SchoolHighGrades 9–12
Washington/Marion Magnet High SchoolHighGrades 9–12
F. K. White Middle SchoolMiddleGrades 6–8
Moss Bluff Middle SchoolMiddleGrades 6–8
Oak Park Middle SchoolMiddleGrades 6–8
Ray D. Molo Middle Magnet SchoolMiddleGrades 6–8
S. J. Welsh Middle SchoolMiddleGrades 6–8
A. A. Nelson Elementary SchoolElementaryGrades -1–5
Barbe Elementary SchoolElementaryGrades -1–5
Brentwood Elementary SchoolElementaryGrades -1–5

Public schools + grade-8 proficiency. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES directory + EDFacts assessments), via Urban Institute.

Safety

Crime

violent crime66% above national
Lake Charles639
Louisiana584
United States386
↑ 22% higher than 2019
2019–2023
property crime51% above national
Lake Charles2,947
Louisiana2,620
United States1,952
↓ 20% lower than 2019
2019–2023

Rate per 100,000 residents/year, Lake Charles Police Department, 2023. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS (Crime Data Explorer).

Environment

Environmental hazards

Toxic-release sites and regulated facilities in and around Lake Charles.

Data source being added: U.S. EPA — Toxics Release Inventory (public). We show real, sourced figures only — never estimates.

Risk

Natural disaster risk

Relatively High
Top hazards · Calcasieu County
HurricaneVery High
LightningVery High
Coastal floodingRelatively High
Cold waveRelatively High
Ice stormRelatively High
Riverine floodingRelatively High

County-level natural-hazard risk. Source: FEMA National Risk Index.

Context

Neighborhood info

Lake Charles is in Calcasieu County — see county-wide risk, demographics, and registry.

Lake Charles was founded in 1861 and sits in Calcasieu Parish. Elevation ~3 m.

Population trend
92K081,67918802024
Map of Lake Charles
Lake Charles, LA
Where Lake Charles is
New OrleansBaton RougeShreveportLafayetteLake CharlesKenner
Historic places

15 on the National Register of Historic Places.

Arcade TheaterCharleston HotelWaters Pierce Oil Company Stable BuildingEpiscopal Church of the Good ShepherdMcNeese State University AuditoriumLake Charles City Hall, OldCalcasieu Parish CourthouseCalcasieu Marine Bank
Notable people from Lake Charles
Zachary LeviMichael Ellis DeBakeyLucinda WilliamsSean Patrick FlaneryDominic L. Pudwill GorieTia TexadaLynda BenglisEunice SanbornTed LyonsRalph Eggleston
People searches in Lake Charles
Michael Smith (12)John Smith (11)James Smith (10)David Smith (10)Robert Smith (10)Michael Johnson (10)John Johnson (9)James Johnson (8)Michael Williams (8)William Smith (8)David Johnson (8)Robert Johnson (8)John WilliamsMichael BrownMichael JonesJames WilliamsDavid WilliamsJohn BrownRobert WilliamsJohn JonesWilliam JohnsonMary SmithJames BrownJames Jones
Nearby cities
Sulphur (9 mi)Jennings (33 mi)DeRidder (45 mi)Crowley (50 mi)Eunice (51 mi)Abbeville (67 mi)

Registered sex offenders in Lake Charles, LA (16)

Public sex-offender registry records for Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Ryan Crenna Garcia, 60
Lake Charles · 70601
Lacorey Remone Harris, 44
Lake Charles · 70607
AKA Lacorey Remone Clark, Lacorey Clark
Paul Joseph Taylor, 59
Lake Charles · Calcasieu County · 70601
Joseph Carroll Wright, 78
Lake Charles · 70611
Joseph Lewis Jones, 63
Lake Charles · Calcasieu County · 70601
AKA Joe Jones
Steven Michael Carter, 66
Lake Charles · 70615
AKA David Lee Dotson, Steve M Carter
Kevin Lavant Jackson, 54
Lake Charles · 70601
Mark W Williams, 67
Lake Charles · Calcasieu County · 70601
AKA Marcus W Okee, Mark Okee
Anthony Michael Thomas, 43
Lake Charles · 70615
AKA Jonathan Nicholas Campbell, John Campbell
Daniel Isaac Wilson, 61
Lake Charles · 70601
Daniel Ray Davis, 80
Lake Charles · 70605
Christopher Charles Robinson, 45
Lake Charles · 70601
Christopher D Johnson, 80
Lake Charles · 70601
Christopher Ryan Smith, 32
Lake Charles · 70615
Christopher Smith, 62
Lake Charles · Calcasieu County · 70615
Richard Lewis, 69
Lake Charles · 70601

Source: Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and state registries. Public record. This information is provided for public awareness. Using it to harass, threaten, or discriminate against any registrant, or for any purpose prohibited by law, is illegal. Verify against the official registry record before relying on it.

Common questions

Lake Charles — frequently asked

What is the population of Lake Charles, Louisiana?
Lake Charles has a population of about 81,679, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year).
What is the average home value in Lake Charles?
The median home value in Lake Charles is $204,000, and the median gross rent is $1,090/month (U.S. Census ACS).
Is Lake Charles safe? What is the crime rate?
Lake Charles Police Department reported a violent-crime rate of about 639 per 100,000 residents in 2023 — higher than the U.S. rate of 386. Source: FBI UCR/NIBRS.
What natural-disaster risks does Lake Charles face?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Calcasieu County as "Relatively High" overall, with top hazards including hurricane, lightning, coastal flooding.
How many schools are in Lake Charles?
Lake Charles has 36 public schools (23 elementary, 5 middle, 6 high). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, NCES.
How many registered sex offenders are in Lake Charles?
Public registry data lists 16 registered sex offenders in or near Lake Charles. This is neighborhood-safety information from the public state registry.
Look up a person in Lake Charles →