Lake Charles, LA

Census Place

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2024 Population
81,143
US Senator
Bill Cassidy
Republican Party
US Senator
John Kennedy
Republican Party
2024 Median Age
36.6
1.1% 1-year increase
2024 Poverty Rate
23.3%
0.263% 1-year increase
2024 Median Household Income
$59,235
4.17% 1-year growth
2024 Median Property Value
$214,300
5.05% 1-year growth
2024 Employed Population
37,303
1.42% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Lake Charles, LA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

96.4% of the residents in Lake Charles, LA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Lake Charles, LA are SOWELA Technical Community College (2,133 degrees awarded in 2023), McNeese State University (1,298 degrees), and Stage One-The Hair School (45 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Lake Charles, LA was $214,300, and the homeownership rate was 60.9%.

Most people in Lake Charles, LA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 17 minutes. The average car ownership in Lake Charles, LA was 2 cars per household.

United StatesLouisianaCalcasieu Parish, LALake Charles, LAImperial Calcasieu Regional Planning & Development District 1 (North) PUMA, LAImperial Calcasieu Regional Planning & Development District 2 (South) PUMA, LA

Population & Diversity

Lake Charles, LA is home to a population of 81.1k people, from which 96.4% are citizens. As of 2024, 5.61% of Lake Charles, LA residents were born outside of the country (4.56k people).

In 2024, there were 1.07 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (36.8k people) in Lake Charles, LA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 34.4k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 2.16k Asian (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

96.4%
2024 Citizenship
96.9%
2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 96.4% of Lake Charles, LA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Lake Charles, LA was 96.9%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Lake Charles, LA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Lake Charles, LA
  1. White (Non-Hispanic)
    36.8k ± 1.83k
  2. Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
    34.4k ± 2.04k
  3. Asian (Non-Hispanic)
    2.16k ± 344
5.72%
Hispanic Population
4.64k people

In 2024, there were 1.07 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (36.8k people) in Lake Charles, LA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 34.4k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 2.16k Asian (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

5.72% of the people in Lake Charles, LA are hispanic (4.64k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Lake Charles, LA as a share of the total population.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Louisiana.
Most Common Origin
  1. Honduras
    46,145 ± 5,248 people
  2. Mexico
    26,336 ± 3,973 people
  3. Vietnam
    16,621 ± 3,160 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Louisiana was Honduras, the natal country of 46,145 Louisiana residents, followed by Mexico with 26,336 and Vietnam with 16,621.

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Foreign-Born Population

5.61%
2024 Foreign-Born Population
4.56k people
4.68%
2023 Foreign-Born Population
3.82k people

As of 2024, 5.61% of Lake Charles, LA residents (4.56k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Lake Charles, LA was 4.68%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Lake Charles, LA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period
  1. Gulf War (2001-)
    1,500 ± 413
  2. Vietnam
    1,157 ± 255
  3. Gulf War (1990s)
    791 ± 289

Lake Charles, LA has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.3 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Lake Charles, LA.

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Economy

The economy of Lake Charles, LA employs 37.3k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Lake Charles, LA were Health Care & Social Assistance (6,816 people), Retail Trade (5,001 people), and Educational Services (3,732 people), and the highest paying industries were Manufacturing ($98,719), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($90,438), and Utilities ($74,177).

Employment

Occupations

37.3k
2024 Value
± 2,052
1.42%
1 Year growth
± 7.58%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Lake Charles, LA grew at a rate of 1.42%, from 36.8k employees to 37.3k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Lake Charles, LA, are Sales & Related Occupations (4,350 people), Management Occupations (3,576 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (3,433 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Lake Charles, LA.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Louisiana.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Louisiana (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

37.3k
2024 Value
± 2,052
1.42%
1 Year growth
± 7.58%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Lake Charles, LA grew at a rate of 1.42%, from 36.8k employees to 37.3k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Lake Charles, LA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (6,816 people), Retail Trade (5,001 people), and Educational Services (3,732 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Lake Charles, LA, though some of these residents may live in Lake Charles, LA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Median Earnings by Industry

$47,489
Median earning men ± $5,120
$30,960
Median earning women ± $1,949

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Manufacturing ($101,944), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($75,272), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($73,873).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Manufacturing ($93,065), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($61,136), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($58,835).

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Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Louisiana.
Y-Axis
1.78%
Year-over-year growth
Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 1.94M people employed in Louisiana. This represents a 1.78% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 14.4%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Louisiana.

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Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Louisiana went to Donald J. Trump with 60.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (38.2%), followed by Other (0.547%).

Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy are the senators currently representing the state of Louisiana. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Louisiana is currently represented by 6 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Voting results are not available for Lake Charles, LA. Showing the available data for Louisiana.
2024 Election Results
  1. Donald J. Trump (60.2%)
    Republican Party
  2. Kamala Harris (38.2%)
    Democratic Party
  3. Other (0.547%)
    Other Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Louisiana went to Donald J. Trump with 60.2% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (38.2%), followed by Other (0.547%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Louisiana for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

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Senator Elections

US Senators from Louisiana

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Louisiana.
Bill Cassidy
Senator from Louisiana2
Assumed office on January 3, 2015
John Kennedy
Senator from Louisiana3
Assumed office on January 3, 2017

Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy are the senators currently representing Louisiana.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Louisiana over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

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Education

In 2023, universities in Lake Charles, LA awarded 3,496 degrees. The student population of Lake Charles, LA in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 3,852 male students and 5,677 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Lake Charles, LA are White (2,427 and 71.4%), Black or African American (629 and 18.5%), Two or More Races (133 and 3.91%), and Hispanic or Latino (127 and 3.74%).

The largest universities in Lake Charles, LA by number of degrees awarded are SOWELA Technical Community College (2,133 and 61%), McNeese State University (1,298 and 37.1%), and Stage One-The Hair School (45 and 1.29%).

The most popular majors in Lake Charles, LA are General Studies (374 and 10.7%), Electrician (299 and 8.55%), and Instrumentation Technology (271 and 7.75%).

The median tuition cost in Lake Charles, LA for a public four year colleges is $5,147 for in-state students and $6,647 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University
Measure

In 2023 in Lake Charles, LA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 67.5%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 47.8%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 9,529 (40.4% men and 59.6% women).

The line chart  shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

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Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 9,529 students enrolled in Lake Charles, LA, 40.4% men and 59.6% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 6,219 records, of which 57.7% were women and 42.3% men.

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Completions

Concentrations

Most Common
  1. General Studies
    148 degrees awarded
  2. Registered Nursing
    131 degrees awarded
  3. General Business Administration & Management
    93 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Lake Charles, LA was General Studies with 148 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Lake Charles, LA according to their major.

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Universities

Gender
Race
Largest Universities by degrees awarded
  1. SOWELA Technical Community College
    2,133 degrees awarded
  2. McNeese State University
    1,298 degrees awarded
  3. Stage One-The Hair School
    45 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was SOWELA Technical Community College with 2,133 degrees awarded.

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Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 1,764 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Lake Charles, LA, which is 1.02 times more than the 1,732 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 2,427 degrees mean that there were 3.86 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 629 degrees awarded.

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Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

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Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($5,147) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($3,313) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($1,300) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Lake Charles, LA was $214,300 in 2024, which is 0.644 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $204,000 to $214,300, a 5.05% increase. The homeownership rate in Lake Charles, LA is 60.9%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Lake Charles, LA have an average commute time of 17 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Lake Charles, LA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$214,300
Median Property Value 2024
±$12,654
$19,532
Median Property Taxes
±$1,292

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Lake Charles, LA the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Lake Charles, LA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

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Rent vs Own

60.9%
Homeownership
2024
68.7%
Homeowners with Mortgage
2024

In 2024, 60.9% of the housing units in Lake Charles, LA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 61.1%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Lake Charles, LA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
$59,235
Median Household Income
± $3,575
32.1k
Number of Households
± 1,778

In 2024, the median household income of the 32.1k households in Lake Charles, LA grew to $59,235 from the previous year's value of $56,864.

The following chart displays the households in Lake Charles, LA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the < $10k range.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Lake Charles, LA is from Louisiana.
0.465
2023 Wage GINI in Louisiana
0.466
2022 Wage GINI in Louisiana

In 2023, the income inequality in Louisiana was 0.465 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.123% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Louisiana was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Louisiana in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Louisiana across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024
  1. Drove Alone (80.2%)
  2. Carpooled (10.7%)
  3. Worked At Home (4.96%)

In 2024, 80.2% of workers in Lake Charles, LA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (10.7%) and those who worked at home (4.96%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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Commute Time

17 minutes
Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Lake Charles, LA have a shorter commute time (17 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.16% of the workforce in Lake Charles, LA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Lake Charles, LA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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Car Ownership

2 cars
Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Lake Charles, LA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Lake Charles, LA have 2 cars.

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Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

23.3% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Lake Charles, LA (18.4k out of 79.1k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Females 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Lake Charles, LA is Black, followed by White and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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Health

91.7% of the population of Lake Charles, LA has health coverage, with 37.6% on employee plans, 27.6% on Medicaid, 11.5% on Medicare, 14% on non-group plans, and 1.08% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Louisiana see 1,441 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,441 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1692 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 283 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.1% were men and 50.9% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23.7% under 18 years, 24.8% between 18 and 34 years, 34.9% between 35 and 64 years, and 16.7% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.1% were men and 50.9% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

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Uninsured People

8.32%
Uninsured
37.6%
Employer Coverage
27.6%
Medicaid
11.5%
Medicare
14%
Non-Group
1.08%
Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Lake Charles, LA grew by 6.04% from 7.84% to 8.32%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Lake Charles, LA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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