Lake Charles, Louisiana Income Statistics
Lake Charles Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Lake Charles Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lake Charles | Louisiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,493 | $60,934 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,730 | $53,184 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 3.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.6% | 9.7% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.3% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lake Charles is about 7% lower than in Louisiana. Income has been growing faster in Lake Charles (5.1%/yr) than in Louisiana (3.7%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Lake Charles earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Louisiana average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Lake Charles, Louisiana grew by 65.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $56,493 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lake Charles
| Metric | Lake Charles | Louisiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.579 | 0.574 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,398 | $65,171 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,216 | $47,031 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 18.7% | 27.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Lake Charles, it is 0.579, about the same as Louisiana's 0.574, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 23% more than women's income in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Over a 35-year career, a 23% wage gap accumulates to roughly $356,370 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lake Charles, Louisiana has narrowed from about 43% to 19% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $9,225 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Lake Charles | Louisiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9% | 6.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.5% | 8.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 2,416 people are unemployed in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The average commute time in Lake Charles is 15 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Louisiana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lake Charles, Louisiana has fallen from 9.0% to 6.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.6% in 2014 and fell as low as 6.0% in 2023.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lake Charles, Louisiana has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Louisiana, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
How Rich Is Lake Charles, Louisiana?
Lake Charles has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $56,493, about 7% lower than the Louisiana average of $60,934.
How fast is household income rising in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lake Charles, Louisiana rose 65%, from $34,159 to $56,493. Over the same years, income here outpaced Louisiana as a whole: +65% against +44%.
What was the median household income in Lake Charles in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lake Charles, Louisiana was $55,598, up 4% from $53,420 in 2022. The Louisiana median that year was $60,038.
What was the median household income in Lake Charles in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lake Charles, Louisiana was $44,839. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $56,493.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
The Gini coefficient in Lake Charles is 0.579. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lake Charles, Louisiana has narrowed from about 43% to 19% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $9,225 since 2009.
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