Lake Charles city, Louisiana Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Lake Charles city is a mid-sized community located in Louisiana. The total population is 81,679. It ranks as the 6th most populous out of 487 cities and towns in Louisiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lake Charles city is 36.2 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 37.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lake Charles city is $56,864. This is 5% lower than the state median of $60,023. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 28% lower. The poverty rate stands at 23.2%. This is 23% higher than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $204,000. Housing costs are 2% lower than the state median of $208,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 61.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lake Charles city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 46.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 42.8%.

Education

29.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 26.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Lake Charles city, Louisiana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Louisiana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 487 Census-designated places in Louisiana. For official data, visit data.census.gov.