Lake Charles, LA—70611
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 $254,000, with a year-over-year change of 4.5%. This indicates that home prices in Lake Charles, LA are increasing. According to Zillow, the 1-year price projection is -4.1%, suggesting a decrease housing market in the next year.
Cost per Home Type
| Home Type | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
All Homes | $254,000 | 4.5% |
| Single Family | $255,000 | 5.8% |
| Condos | N/A | N/A |
Cost per Home Size
| Home Size | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
1 Bed | N/A | N/A |
2 Bed | N/A | N/A |
3 Bed | $236,000 | 4.4% |
4 Bed | $294,000 | 3.5% |
| 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 $1,170, with a year-over-year rent change of -20.9%. Per bedroom, the median rent as of July '25 in Lake Charles, LA is 1-bedrooms: $600, 2-bedrooms: $877, 3-bedrooms: $1,650. The most common rental property sizes in Lake Charles, LA are 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom, accounting for 52.9% and 44.4% of the rental stock.
| Type | Median Rent | Average Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $1,170 |
| Studio Rent | N/A | N/A |
| 1 Bed Rent | $600 | $600 |
| 2 Bed Rent | $795 | $877 |
| 3 Bed Rent | $1,800 | $1,650 |
| 4 Bed Rent | N/A | N/A |
% 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 89. This is a decrease of -15.0% 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 12.0%, representing a small inventory and little supply pressure on home prices.
| Metric | Zip Code Average | Year over Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
Median Listing Price | $282,000 | -7.0% |
Listing Count | 145 | -1.0% |
| Listings as % of Homes | 1.3% | -1.0% |
Days on Market | 89 | -15.0% |
Demographics — Lake Charles, LA
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Lake Charles, LA has a population of 20,700, which has remained stable by -0.1% over the past 5 years. Lake Charles, LA is a popular place for families, as children make up 25.8% of the population. The area has a moderately educated workforce, with 30.0% of adult residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are few residents working remotely, with 7.0% reporting working from home.
| Metric | Latest Census | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
Population | 20,700 | -0.1% |
% Under 18 | 25.8% | 2.8% |
% Seniors | 17.4% | 33.8% |
% WFH | 7.0% | 169.2% |
% w/ College Degree | 30.0% | 28.8% |
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Lake Charles, LA is a predominantly white area, with 84.0% of the population identifying as white. The white population has shrunk by 6.0% in the last 5 years. The second most common race or ethnicity in Lake Charles, LA is black, making up 10.9% of the population. Foreign-born residents account for 1.0% of the population in Lake Charles, LA, and this percentage has decreased by 52.4% as of the ACS Survey 5 years prior, suggesting fewer immigrants are calling the area home.
Race and Ethnicity
| Metric | Latest Census | 5-Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
% White | 84.0% | -6.0% |
% Black | 10.9% | 43.4% |
% Hispanic | 1.5% | 0.0% |
% Asian | 0.7% | 250.0% |
% Foreign Born | 1.0% | -52.4% |
Mortgage and Risk — Lake Charles, LA
According to HUD data as of 2023, there were 368 mortgage originations in Lake Charles, LA, of which 65.0% of loans were conventional mortgages. The average loan-to-value was 80.0%, with 43.0% above 90% LTV (very high). This implies large mortgage risk in Lake Charles, LA. Investor activity is low, as 2.0% of loans were by investors. 10.0% of loans were cash-out refinances, suggesting few homeowners are tapping equity.
Mortgages
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
Total Loan Originations | 368 |
% Conventional Loans | 65.0% |
% Government Loans | 35.0% |
% Investor Loans | 2.0% |
% Second Loans | 1.0% |
% Cash Out Refinance | 10.0% |
Loan Activity
Rentals and Section 8 — Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles, LA lacks sufficient Section 8 program data for analysis.
Section 8 Market Size
Total Units under HUD | 33 |
Total Units Section 8 | 33 |
% Rentals under Section 8 | 2.8% |
% Occupied Section 8 | 54.0% |
Section 8 Opportunity
| Home Size | HUD Premium | Market Rent | Max HUD Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $340 | $600 | $940 |
| 2 Bedroom | $435 | $795 | $1,230 |
| 3 Bedroom | -$310 | $1,800 | $1,490 |
| 4 Bedroom | N/A | N/A | $1,630 |
Affordability — Lake Charles, LA
Home Price to Income Ratio
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
| Home Price to Income Ratio | 2.5 |
| Median Home Price | $254,000 |
| Median Household Income | $101,000 |