Census ACS · #198 MSA
Lake Charles Metro Area
The Lake Charles, La Metropolitan Statistical Area has 245,973 residents. The median household income is $67,010 and the median home value is $198,900.
245,973
Population
82
People / sq mi
$67,010
Median Income
$198,900
Median Home Value
The Lake Charles CBSA covers 3,000 sq mi of land at 82.0 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 68.7% |
| Black or African American | 22.0% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.7% |
Economy & Income
$67,010
Median Household Income
$34,855
Per Capita Income
13.0%
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The Lake Charles metro's price level is 85.9 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 14.1% lower the US average. The local median income of $67,010 has the buying power of $78,053 in average-priced US metros.
85.9
Price Level (US = 100)
$78,053
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$67,010
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$198,900
Median Home Value
$1,070
Median Rent
73.3%
Homeownership
Education
88.5%
High School+
23.2%
Bachelor's+
Commute
0.2%
Drive Alone
4.8%
Work From Home
23.4 min
Avg Commute
17.3%
Foreign Born
Lake Charles spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in Louisiana
Largest counties in Louisiana
Part of Louisiana
Other metros
Metro areas in Louisiana
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Lake Charles, La Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 245,973 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #198 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the Lake Charles metro area is $67,010, with a per capita income of $34,855.
The Lake Charles, La CBSA spans the state of Louisiana.
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More from Louisiana
Data for the Lake Charles, La CBSA (29340) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
The poverty rate is what most separates Lake Charles from the typical metro area: 13.0% of residents live below the federal poverty line, against 12.4% nationally. Lake Charles is a metro area in LA with a population of 245,973.
The typical household here earns about $67,010, below the US median of $78,538. Poverty sits at 13.0%, close to the national 12.4%. Homes carry a median value of $198,900, with typical rent around $1,070.
Degree attainment is mid-range for US metro areas: 23.2% of adults hold a four-year degree, below the national 35.0%.
The elevated poverty rate is the context for the rest of the profile in Lake Charles: it pulls on median income, housing tenure, and the share of residents with a college degree.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.