Metro area profile · Louisiana
Lake Charles, LA metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Lake Charles metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- Population, 2025
- 244,655
- −3.8% since 2020
- Households
- 92,043
- Median household income
- $66,700
- Median home value
- $207,800
- Jobs located here
- 97,089
- Highest market score
- 70
- Landscaping and lawn care, #72 of 385 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Lake Charles metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Lake Charles metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 244,655 people live in the Lake Charles metro area, in 92,043 households. Population estimates show the Lake Charles metro area declined 3.8% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in the Lake Charles metro area is $66,700 a year, 17% below the U.S. median of $80,734.
Set against the U.S., households in the Lake Charles metro area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 120, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (69).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Lake Charles metro area are for landscaping and lawn care companies (70); pet stores (69); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (67). The Lake Charles metro area ranks #72 of 385 scored metro areas for landscaping and lawn care companies.
The Lake Charles metro area takes in 3 counties: Calcasieu Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish and Cameron Parish. For its number of households, the Lake Charles metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (2.8 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for pizza places (46% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Lake Charles metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Lake Charles metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and lawn care | 70 | #72 of 385 | 26 | 2.8 | $5M | 172 | 52 |
| Pet stores | 69 | #57 of 382 | 11 | 1.2 | $7.2M | 158 | 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 67 | #78 of 387 | 60 | 6.5 | $2.2M | 130 | 105 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 57 | #142 of 386 | 31 | 3.4 | $2.5M | 100 | 9 |
| House cleaning | 56 | #122 of 375 | 19 | 2.1 | $6.9M | 108 | 37 |
| Pet businesses | 55 | #156 of 387 | 86 | 9.3 | $917K | 104 | 42 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 54 | #157 of 387 | 60 | 6.5 | $5.5M | 149 | 48 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 53 | #151 of 387 | 200 | 21.7 | Index only | 123 | 31 |
| Pizza | 51 | #180 of 387 | 40 | 4.3 | $8.3M | 163 | 191 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 50 | #197 of 386 | 26 | 2.8 | $3.8M | 121 | 12 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 48 | #180 of 347 | 8 | 0.9 | $7.9M | 194 | 29 |
| Real estate | 48 | #198 of 387 | 276 | 30.0 | Index only | 112 | 96 |
| Insurance agencies | 45 | #216 of 387 | 162 | 17.6 | $1.3M | 106 | 89 |
| Roofing and gutters | 44 | #236 of 381 | 31 | 3.4 | $8.1M | 96 | 16 |
| Home inspectors | 41 | #165 of 243 | 5 | 0.5 | Index only | 102 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | 40 | #253 of 384 | 28 | 3.0 | $2.8M | 104 | 30 |
| Car washes and detailing | 40 | #272 of 387 | 35 | 3.8 | $2.3M | 89 | 11 |
| Hair salons | 39 | #303 of 387 | 197 | 21.4 | $400K | 93 | 31 |
| Spas and skin care | 38 | #307 of 387 | 89 | 9.7 | $886K | 101 | 15 |
| Laundromats | 37 | #257 of 364 | 12 | 1.3 | $13.9M | 111 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | 37 | #282 of 387 | 49 | 5.3 | $808K | 81 | 45 |
| Dry cleaners | 36 | #206 of 272 | 10 | 1.1 | $16.7M | 107 | 8 |
| Pest control | 36 | #267 of 345 | 15 | 1.6 | $8.7M | 85 | 16 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 36 | #305 of 373 | 39 | 4.2 | Index only | 88 | 10 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 36 | #307 of 387 | 97 | 10.5 | $1M | 103 | 72 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 35 | #312 of 387 | 551 | 59.9 | $602K | 91 | 130 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 35 | #332 of 387 | 429 | 46.6 | $184K | 86 | 61 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 34 | #299 of 381 | 23 | 2.5 | $3.4M | 111 | 24 |
| Auto repair shops | 34 | #311 of 387 | 202 | 21.9 | $390K | 88 | 75 |
| Property management | 33 | #323 of 374 | 32 | 3.5 | Index only | 76 | 37 |
| Barbershops | 30 | #333 of 387 | 69 | 7.5 | $1.1M | 61 | 3 |
| Nail salons | 30 | #358 of 387 | 67 | 7.3 | $1.2M | 70 | 9 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 29 | #338 of 387 | 1,035 | 112.4 | $320K | 86 | 382 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 28 | #327 of 387 | 211 | 22.9 | $793K | 90 | 87 |
| Auto repair and car care | 28 | #337 of 387 | 339 | 36.8 | $233K | 87 | 128 |
| Home repair trades | 28 | #362 of 387 | 129 | 14.0 | $2M | 81 | 175 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 26 | #363 of 387 | 66 | 7.2 | $3.8M | 80 | 94 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 24 | #263 of 290 | 9 | 1.0 | $8.8M | 64 | 7 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 24 | #345 of 387 | 166 | 18.0 | $1M | 79 | 79 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 24 | #370 of 387 | 107 | 11.6 | $3.1M | 75 | 54 |
| Electricians | 23 | #363 of 383 | 32 | 3.5 | $7.9M | 66 | 65 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 23 | #380 of 387 | 51 | 5.5 | $1.2M | 61 | 17 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 21 | #382 of 387 | 135 | 14.7 | $466K | 70 | 46 |
| Grocery stores | 20 | #366 of 387 | 68 | 7.4 | $7.9M | 85 | 42 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 20 | #369 of 387 | 781 | 84.9 | $126K | 83 | 333 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 19 | #362 of 387 | 167 | 18.1 | $2M | 65 | 191 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 19 | #364 of 387 | 84 | 9.1 | $1.2M | 66 | 149 |
| Gyms | 18 | #381 of 387 | 76 | 8.3 | $827K | 64 | 29 |
| Chiropractors | 18 | #382 of 386 | 52 | 5.6 | $1.9M | 79 | 37 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 16 | #376 of 387 | 239 | 26.0 | $2.3M | 66 | 76 |
| Convenience stores | 14 | #378 of 387 | 135 | 14.7 | $4M | 51 | 34 |
| Physical therapy | 14 | #381 of 386 | 58 | 6.3 | $1.7M | 71 | 45 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 12 | #196 of 197 | 6 | 0.7 | $16.4M | 67 | 18 |
| Funeral homes | 12 | #376 of 377 | 33 | 3.6 | $380K | 56 | 20 |
| Gas stations | 10 | #386 of 387 | 282 | 30.6 | $899K | 38 | 182 |
| Tire shops | 6 | #384 of 386 | 58 | 6.3 | $1.4M | 54 | 33 |
Household spending in the Lake Charles metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $78.8M | $856 | 89 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $253.5M | $2,754 | 106 |
| Food away from home | $331.5M | $3,601 | 88 |
| Groceries | $538.1M | $5,846 | 93 |
| Personal care products and services | $78.8M | $857 | 85 |
| Child care and other personal services | $39.6M | $430 | 74 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $62.9M | $683 | 69 |
| Medical and dental services | $98.4M | $1,069 | 83 |
| Pets | $78.9M | $857 | 94 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $167.2M | $1,817 | 88 |
| Vehicle insurance | $216.1M | $2,348 | 120 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $252.6M | $2,744 | 91 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $130.7M | $1,420 | 100 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1.3B | $14,592 | 88 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Lake Charles metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 244,655−3.8% since 2020
- Households
- 92,043
- Median age
- 38.0
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 74%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.8
- Land area
- 3,006 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 81
- Median household income
- $66,700
- Average household income
- $91,252
- Median home value
- $207,800
- Jobs located here
- 97,089
- Daytime population
- 245,958Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Lake Charles metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Lake Charles metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Lake Charles metro area 3
- Calcasieu Parish, LA207,088 people
- Jefferson Davis Parish, LA31,924 people
- Cameron Parish, LA5,015 people
Other markets based in Louisiana 12
- New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area981,662 people
- Baton Rouge, LA metro area875,313 people
- Lafayette, LA metro area413,428 people
- Shreveport-Bossier City, LA metro area386,819 people
- Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA metro area272,421 people
- Monroe, LA metro area223,674 people
- Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA metro area202,438 people
- Alexandria, LA metro area149,622 people
- Hammond, LA metro area136,738 people
- Opelousas, LA area81,670 people
- New Iberia, LA area68,599 people
- Ruston, LA area48,174 people
Questions
How fast is the Lake Charles, LA metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Lake Charles metro area at 244,655 people in 2025, down 3.8% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 92,043 households.
How much do households in the Lake Charles, LA metro area spend?
Households in the Lake Charles metro area spend about $1.3B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $538.1M on groceries and $331.5M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Lake Charles metro area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 120, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (69).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Lake Charles, LA metro area?
Of the business types scored in the Lake Charles metro area, landscaping and lawn care companies (70); pet stores (69); and lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (67) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For landscaping and lawn care companies, that ranks #72 of 385 scored metro areas.
How does the Lake Charles, LA metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Lake Charles metro area is $66,700, 17% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 3.8% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $207,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (2.8 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for pizza places (46% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in the Lake Charles metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Lake Charles metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Louisiana · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Lake Charles metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Lake Charles metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.