Lafayette vs Lake Charles
Lafayette, Louisiana versus Lake Charles, Louisiana: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Lake Charles edges out Lafayette on overall objective livability (51 vs 47 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Lafayette | Lake Charles |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $59k | $55k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $47k |
| Home Value | $235k | $191k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.58% | 0.34% |
| Income Tax | 4.30% | 4.30% |
| Sales Tax | 9.56% | 9.56% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.76% | 8.64% |
| Unemployment | 6.1% | 5.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 53°F | 53°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 83°F | 84°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7 in | 65.1 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 261 days | 252 days |
| Summer Humidity | 74°F | 74°F |
| Comfortable Days | 119 days | 123 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 85.0 | 92.7 |
| Air Quality | 46 AQI | 46 AQI |
| School Quality | 44.4 | 85.1 |
| Violent Crime | 1082/100k | 1770/100k |
| Property Crime | 4388/100k | 3122/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 82,430 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 35.7 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.54 | 0.58 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.96 | 0.96 |
| Political Leaning | R+29 | R+36 |
| White (%) | 59.5% | 44.3% |
| Black (%) | 29.1% | 45.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 5.2% | 3.9% |
| Asian (%) | 2.4% | 2.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.9% | 3.5% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 10.1/20 | 9.7/20 |
| Airport Distance | 108 mi | 127 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 89.9% | 81.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 16.84 | 21.72 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Lafayette or Lake Charles more affordable?
- Lafayette has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Lafayette's $44k and Lake Charles's $47k. Median rent is $1k in Lafayette versus $1k in Lake Charles.
- Is Lafayette or Lake Charles safer?
- Lafayette has the lower violent crime rate. Lafayette reports 1082/100k and Lake Charles reports 1770/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Lafayette or Lake Charles?
- The median home value is $235k in Lafayette and $191k in Lake Charles, so homes are more affordable in Lake Charles.