Data through September 2026 · updated 2026-11-07 · free, from Zillow, Realtor.com, the Census Bureau and other public sources
Typical home value$201,631+2.3% YoY · prices are rising
Market right nowBalanced, leaning sellersFewer homes for sale than last year, 12% have cut their price
Income needed to buy, per year$43,709About 0.7× the local median income ($65,582): affordable for a typical household
Days on market74 daysFaster than a year ago: sellers have the edge
Next 12 months−0.9%Zillow expects prices to dip slightly
The typical home in Lake Charles, LA is worth $201,631, up 2.3% from a year ago. That is well below what local incomes have historically supported: fair value is about $261,886, so the area is 23.0% undervalued. It is a balanced market, leaning toward sellers: homes take about 74 days to sell, listings are down 30% from a year ago, 12% of listings have had a price cut. Zillow expects prices to fall about 0.9% over the next year. A household needs about $43,709 a year to afford the typical home here at today's 7.18% mortgage rate (20% down, payment at 30% of income); the median household earns $65,582. Typical rent is $1,358 a month, or $1,396 for a house. In the latest IRS figures, 26 more people moved out than in.
Home value over time
Solid: typical home value · dashed: fair value (household income × the 20-year average price-to-income ratio). Sources: FHFA, Zillow, U.S. Census Bureau.
Prices and affordability
Typical home value
$201,631
Change in 1 year
+2.3%
Overvalued %
−23.0%
Show 7 more
Fair home value
$261,886
Change in 5 years
−6.5%
Zillow forecast, next 12 months
−0.9%
Home value to income
3.1×
Monthly mortgage payment (20% down)
$1,093
Income needed to afford it
$43,709
Property tax rate
0.43%
Rent and investing
Typical rent
$1,358
Typical rent for houses
$1,396
Price-to-rent ratio
12.4×
Show 3 more
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,191
Gross rental yield
8.08%
Cap rate (estimate)
5.25%
Market activity
Listings vs a year ago
−30.3%
Days on market
74
Listings with a price cut
12.3%
Show 3 more
Homes for sale
764
Pending sales per 100 listings
36
Asking price per sq ft
$129
People and jobs
Median household income
$65,582
Population change (1 year)
+0.5%
Unemployment rate
5.3%
Show 4 more
Population
244,655
Income adjusted for cost of living
$76,347
Net moves in (IRS)
−26
Cost of living (US = 100)
85.9
Schools, risk and environment
School rating (1 to 10)
6.6
FEMA hazard risk score (0 to 100)
91.8
Unhealthy air days a year
3
Show 4 more
Flood risk score
90.7
Wildfire risk score
87.6
Walkability (1 to 20)
6.6
Road, rail and air noise
53 dB
Questions people ask
Is Lake Charles, LA overvalued?
Home prices in Lake Charles, LA are well below what local incomes have historically supported: fair value is about $261,886, so the area is 23.0% undervalued.
Is Lake Charles, LA a buyer's or seller's market?
Lake Charles, LA is a balanced market, leaning toward sellers: homes take about 74 days to sell, listings are down 30% from a year ago, 12% of listings have had a price cut.
Are home prices going down in Lake Charles, LA?
Home values in Lake Charles, LA are up 2.3% over the last year. Zillow's forecast for the next 12 months is −0.9%.
How much do you need to earn to buy a home in Lake Charles, LA?
A household needs about $43,709 a year to afford the typical home in Lake Charles, LA at today's 7.18% mortgage rate (20% down, payment at 30% of income); the median household earns $65,582.