Lake Charles, LA—70605
Real Estate Data & Market Trends
Key Metrics at a Glance
Home Price Trends — Lake Charles, LA
As of Oct '25, the median home price in Lake Charles, LA is $265,000, with a year-over-year change of 2.4%. This indicates that home prices in Lake Charles, LA are increasing. According to Zillow, the 1-year price projection is -5.5%, suggesting a decrease housing market in the next year.
Cost per Home Type
| Home Type | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
All Homes | $265,000 | 2.4% |
| Single Family | $266,000 | 2.7% |
| Condos | N/A | N/A |
Cost per Home Size
| Home Size | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
1 Bed | N/A | N/A |
2 Bed | $158,000 | 1.9% |
3 Bed | $234,000 | 0.9% |
4 Bed | $364,000 | 2.0% |
| 5 Bed | N/A | N/A |
% of Housing Stock
Rental Trends — Lake Charles, LA
As of July '25, Rentcast reports the average rent in Lake Charles, LA is $1,310, with a year-over-year rent change of -3.7%. Per bedroom, the median rent as of July '25 in Lake Charles, LA is studios: $900, 1-bedrooms: $913, 2-bedrooms: $932, 3-bedrooms: $1,620, 4-bedrooms: $2,140. The most common rental property sizes in Lake Charles, LA are 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom, accounting for 40.6% and 27.1% of the rental stock.
| Type | Median Rent | Average Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,050 | $1,310 |
| Studio Rent | $900 | $900 |
| 1 Bed Rent | $875 | $913 |
| 2 Bed Rent | $850 | $932 |
| 3 Bed Rent | $1,500 | $1,620 |
| 4 Bed Rent | $2,400 | $2,140 |
% of Rental Stock
Property Listings — Lake Charles, LA
As of Oct '25, Realtor.com reports that the median days on market for a home in Lake Charles, LA is 88. This is a decrease of -25.0% from last year, suggesting that homes are sitting on the market shorter than last year. The percentage of listed homes with a reduced price is 20.0%, representing a small inventory and little supply pressure on home prices.
| Metric | Zip Code Average | Year over Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
Median Listing Price | $300,000 | -5.0% |
Listing Count | 283 | 5.0% |
| Listings as % of Homes | 1.4% | 5.0% |
Days on Market | 88 | -25.0% |
Demographics — Lake Charles, LA
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Lake Charles, LA has a population of 40,700, which has increased by 12.1% over the past 5 years. Lake Charles, LA is a popular place for families, as children make up 26.6% of the population. The area has a moderately educated workforce, with 42.3% of adult residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are few residents working remotely, with 5.4% reporting working from home.
| Metric | Latest Census | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
Population | 40,700 | 12.1% |
% Under 18 | 26.6% | 6.4% |
% Seniors | 15.5% | -5.5% |
% WFH | 5.4% | 58.8% |
% w/ College Degree | 42.3% | 7.9% |
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Lake Charles, LA is a predominantly white area, with 78.6% of the population identifying as white. The white population has shrunk by 1.7% in the last 5 years. The second most common race or ethnicity in Lake Charles, LA is black, making up 10.0% of the population. Foreign-born residents account for 6.1% of the population in Lake Charles, LA, and this percentage has remained stable as of the ACS Survey 5 years prior, suggesting immigration has remained steady.
Race and Ethnicity
| Metric | Latest Census | 5-Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
% White | 78.6% | -1.7% |
% Black | 10.0% | 33.3% |
% Hispanic | 5.9% | 40.5% |
% Asian | 3.5% | -30.0% |
% Foreign Born | 6.1% | 0.0% |
Mortgage and Risk — Lake Charles, LA
According to HUD data as of 2023, there were 542 mortgage originations in Lake Charles, LA, of which 74.0% of loans were conventional mortgages. The average loan-to-value was 73.0%, with 33.0% above 90% LTV (very high). This implies large mortgage risk in Lake Charles, LA. Investor activity is low, as 4.0% of loans were by investors. 7.0% of loans were cash-out refinances, suggesting few homeowners are tapping equity.
Mortgages
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
Total Loan Originations | 542 |
% Conventional Loans | 74.0% |
% Government Loans | 26.0% |
% Investor Loans | 4.0% |
% Second Loans | 1.0% |
% Cash Out Refinance | 7.0% |
Loan Activity
Rentals and Section 8 — Lake Charles, LA
As of 2024, the percent of homes in Lake Charles, LA under the Section 8 program is 6.6%. This is considered low, suggesting that the neighborhood is sparsely composed of Section 8 homes. Section 8 opportunity is good when HUD pays more than market rent. 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom units appear to be good home sizes to consider for Section 8 housing in Lake Charles, LA, because HUD payments exceed market rent, while 4-bedroom units do not.
Section 8 Market Size
Total Units under HUD | 305 |
Total Units Section 8 | 305 |
% Rentals under Section 8 | 6.6% |
% Occupied Section 8 | 89.0% |
Section 8 Opportunity
| Home Size | HUD Premium | Market Rent | Max HUD Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $255 | $875 | $1,130 |
| 2 Bedroom | $620 | $850 | $1,470 |
| 3 Bedroom | $280 | $1,500 | $1,780 |
| 4 Bedroom | -$450 | $2,400 | $1,950 |
Affordability — Lake Charles, LA
Home Price to Income Ratio
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
| Home Price to Income Ratio | 3.1 |
| Median Home Price | $265,000 |
| Median Household Income | $88,300 |