Living in Lake Charles, LA offers a unique blend of Southern hospitality, cultural richness, and the convenience of being close to major urban centers. Located in Southwest Louisiana, Lake Charles is just a short drive from both Houston and New Orleans, making it an ideal location for those who want to enjoy the benefits of a vibrant community with easy access to larger cities. The city is known for its thriving arts scene, beautiful waterfront, and strong sense of community.
Lake Charles’ dining scene is diverse, offering a range of options from classic Cajun cuisine to international flavors. The city’s downtown area is a hub of activity, featuring a variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. The annual Louisiana Pirate Festival and the Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana are highlights of the year, bringing the community together to celebrate with food, music, and family-friendly activities.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Lake Charles provides plenty of opportunities for recreation. The city’s parks, including Prien Lake Park and Millennium Park, offer scenic spots for picnicking, walking, and enjoying the views of Lake Charles. The nearby Creole Nature Trail provides additional opportunities for birdwatching, fishing, and exploring the natural beauty of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands.
Lake Charles is also known for its strong sense of community and commitment to preserving its cultural heritage. The city hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the Downtown at Sundown concert series and the Lake Charles Film Festival, which bring residents together to celebrate and enjoy the local culture. The city’s proximity to Houston and New Orleans means that residents can easily access the amenities of major cities, including theaters, museums, and professional sports venues.
For those considering a move to Louisiana, Lake Charles offers a perfect blend of Southern charm, cultural richness, and urban convenience. Whether you're drawn by its festivals, outdoor activities, or proximity to Houston and New Orleans, living in Lake Charles, LA provides a fulfilling and dynamic lifestyle.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
Cost Of Living
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Amenities
It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.
Crime
High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.
Employment
The combination of low income levels and high unemployment rates contributes to a low score in the employment category, which could make it challenging to secure well-paying jobs.
Health & Safety
Factors like poor air quality and the absence of essential health-related facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and pharmacies could have played a role in the low score in this category.
Ratings
Polls and surveys done by AreaVibes among area residents did not yield positive feedback when it came to the walkability of amenities, safety, nearby parks and the overall sense of community.
Lake Charles is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Louisiana. The city has a population of 77,832 inhabitants. Lake Charles is mostly populated by White (46%) and Black or African American (48%) ethnic groups. If you're not a fan of traffic congestion and long commute times to work, Lake Charles is the place to be. Commutes to work here are shorter, with an average one-way commute time taking only 18 minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Lake Charles could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Louisiana if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like crime, education, employment and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Lake Charles and in the areas around Lake Charles is a much easier task.
Using data and statistics Lake Charles has received a livability score of 68 out of 100. This score is ranked in the 73rd percentile when compared to all other cities. For each of the livability categories, we see that Lake Charles ranks very well for cost of living (A+), education (B) and housing (B+). There are some categories that Lake Charles scores poorly for, including: amenities (F), crime (D-) and employment (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to figure out why.
Parents and families often rely on school test scores when making decisions about local public schools. Test score data serves as a crucial metric for comparing and assessing various educational institutions. In Lake Charles, the average school test scores reached an impressive 66%, significantly higher than the national average. This remarkable performance underscores the commitment of the educational system to equip students with the knowledge and resources necessary for success. It allows your children to receive the support and skills that are essential for thriving academically, making Lake Charles an excellent choice for families seeking a high-quality education.
For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Lake Charles apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.
Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Lake Charles. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Lake Charles are affordable. Median real estate prices in Lake Charles come in at $155,700, which is 5% higher than the Louisiana average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Lake Charles, the home price to income ratio is 3.5, which is 6.1% higher than the Louisiana average.
| Statistic | Lake Charles | Louisiana | National |
| Average one way commute | 18min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 83.3% | 82.6% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 9.0% | 9.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.3% | 1.3% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.1% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.8% | 1.8% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 3.5% | 2.6% | 4.6% |
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