How many renters in Lake Charles, LA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Lake Charles, LA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

57.4% (±4.9 points) of renting households in Lake Charles, LA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

49.3% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 34.6% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 57.4% (±4.9 points)
Paying 35% or more: 49.3% (±4.4 points)
Median share of income: 34.6% (±3.0 points)

Rent as a share of income in Lake Charles

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Lake Charles	Calcasieu Parish	Louisiana	United States
Less than 15%	8.8% (±2.4 points)	14.5%	13.0%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	16.4% (±3.5 points)	14.4%	10.8%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	7.9% (±2.2 points)	9.4%	11.2%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	9.6% (±2.7 points)	9.4%	10.2%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	8.1% (±2.2 points)	8.4%	8.5%	9.2%
35% or more	49.3% (±4.4 points)	43.9%	46.3%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Lake Charles against Calcasieu Parish, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Lake Charles	Calcasieu Parish	Louisiana	United States
Paying 30% or more	57.4% (±4.9 points)	52.3% (±4.5 points)	54.8% (±0.9 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	49.3% (±4.4 points)	43.9% (±4.1 points)	46.3% (±0.8 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	34.6% (±3.0 points)	31.4% (±2.2 points)	32.8% (±0.5 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$33,060 (±$4,178)	$37,660 (±$3,502)	$35,607 (±$539)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,109 (±$43)	$1,109 (±$31)	$1,064 (±$8)	$1,413

In Lake Charles, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Calcasieu Parish (52.3%).

It is not measurably different from Louisiana (54.8%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In Calcasieu Parish, Lake Charles ranks 5 of 9 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 179 of 397.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Lake Charles

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Lake Charles
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Lake Charles	—	57.4% (±4.9 points)	—
Prien	5.0 mi	12.0% (±20.9 points)	Lower
Westlake	5.3 mi	63.4% (±28.1 points)	Not measurably different
Moss Bluff	7.6 mi	25.8% (±22.8 points)	Lower
Sulphur	8.9 mi	40.5% (±14.3 points)	Lower
Carlyss	9.6 mi	94.4% (±14.8 points)	Higher
Iowa	12 mi	61.2% (±28.3 points)	Not measurably different
Fenton	21 mi	43.2% (±40.2 points)	Not measurably different
Vinton	22 mi	65.4% (±27.6 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Prien, LA (12.0%), Moss Bluff, LA (25.8%), Sulphur, LA (40.5%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Carlyss, LA (94.4%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Calcasieu Parish, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Carlyss	94.4% (±14.8 points)
2	Vinton	65.4% (±27.6 points)
3	Westlake	63.4% (±28.1 points)
4	Iowa	61.2% (±28.3 points)
5	Lake Charles	57.4% (±4.9 points)
6	Sulphur	40.5% (±14.3 points)
7	DeQuincy	33.5% (±24.3 points)
8	Moss Bluff	25.8% (±22.8 points)
9	Prien	12.0% (±20.9 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Lake Charles

Are renters in Lake Charles rent-burdened?

57.4% of renting households in Lake Charles pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Lake Charles spend on rent?

The median renting household in Lake Charles, LA spends 34.6% (±3.0 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Lake Charles city, Louisiana (place:41155, in state:22).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.