© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Louisiana
Lafayette
Population 121,715
© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Louisiana
Lake Charles
Population 81,143
Lafayette, LA vs Lake Charles, LA
Side-by-side comparison from the latest government data.
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Lake Charles, LA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 121,715 | 81,143 |
| Median Household Income | $61,915 | $59,235 |
| Median Rent | $1,100/mo | $1,109/mo |
| Median Home Value | $257,000 | $214,300 |
| Cost of Living (US = 100) | 87 | 86 |
| Renters Paying 30%+ of Income | 46.6% | 51.6% |
| Poverty Rate | 18.3% | 23.3% |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | 4.6% |
| Violent Crime Rate /100k | 1,131 | 665 |
| Property Crime Rate /100k | 3,469 | 2,424 |
| Median AQI | 45 | 47 |
| Good AQI Days /yr | 238 | 227 |
| Summer Highs | 91°F | 92°F |
| Winter Lows | 43°F | 45°F |
| Snowfall | 0 in/yr | 0 in/yr |
| Avg Commute | 20 min | 17 min |
| Hospitals | 7 | 5 |
| Avg Hospital Rating | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Students per Teacher | 16.1 | 13.2 |
| College Degree Rate | 41.1% | 29.1% |
| Foreign-Born % | 7% | 5.6% |
| Population Growth (2020–2025) | +1.6% | -2.7% |
Lafayette, LA
Lake Charles, LA
Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.