The Lake Charles metro is home to 245,973 people (up 18.8% over five years), with a median household income of $67,010. Typical rent of $1,358/month works out to 24.3% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Lake Charles's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 24.7% |
| Manufacturing | 10.8% |
| Retail trade | 10.6% |
| Construction | 10.3% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 9.9% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 24.3% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Lake Charles market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,358/month suggests a household income around $54,000/year. The metro's median household income is $67,010.
By workforce share: Education & health care (24.7%), Manufacturing (10.8%), Retail trade (10.6%) (Census ACS 5-year).