Photo by Europeana on Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/@europeana)
Lake Charles, Louisiana Retirement Guide
established retirement community
62
Retirement Score
Lake Charles, Louisiana at a Glance
- Median Home Price
- $218,500
- State Income Tax
- State income tax; Social Security fully exempt; partial pension exclusion.
- Avg January Low
- 41.2°F
- Cost of Living Index
- 90.5 (US avg = 100)
- Best For
- established retirement community
- RetireCityIQ Score
- 62 / 100
Retirement Data
Affordability
Cost of Living Index
90.5 (U.S. avg = 100)Medium confidence
BEA Regional Price Parities · Updated March 2026
Median Home Price
$218,500High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 1-Year · Updated April 2026
Median Monthly Rent
$1,157High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 1-Year · Updated April 2026
Taxes
Retirement Tax Score
45 / 100Medium confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated March 2026
Tax Details
State income tax; Social Security fully exempt; partial pension exclusion.Medium confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated March 2026
Retiree Readiness (Sprint 2)
Care Access Score (proxy)
71.4 / 100High confidence
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated April 2026
Aging-in-Place Score (proxy)
39.7 / 100High confidence
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated April 2026
Healthcare
Healthcare Access Score
71.4 / 100Medium confidence
CMS Hospital General Information · Updated March 2026
Climate
Avg July High
90.1°FMedium confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated March 2026
Avg January Low
41.2°FMedium confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated March 2026
Annual Precipitation
51.1"Medium confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated March 2026
Sunny Days / Year
311 daysMedium confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated March 2026
Safety
Safety Score
63.3 / 100Medium confidence
FBI Crime Data Explorer · Updated March 2026
Walkability
Walk Score (proxy)
31.9 / 100Medium confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated March 2026
Transit Score (proxy)
0.4 / 100Medium confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated March 2026
Demographics
Population
82,430High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Median Age
35.7High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Age 65+
16.4%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Median Household Income
$54,761High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Community Profile
Owner-Occupied Housing
57.6%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Veterans
8.9%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Bachelor's Degree+
27.5%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Poverty Rate
22.6%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Diversity
White
45.4%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Black
45.8%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Hispanic/Latino
3.9%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
Asian
2.6%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated April 2026
10-Year Housing Stress Test (Estimate)
Estimate monthly homeowner carrying cost in Lake Charles using median home price and adjustable assumptions. Stress case applies +10% property tax, +20% insurance, +10% maintenance.
Estimated monthly carrying cost
$473
Stress-case monthly carrying cost
$532
Median home price used: $218,500
Median rent reference: $1,157 / month
Estimate includes property tax, insurance, maintenance reserve, and HOA. It excludes mortgage, utilities, and one-time transaction costs.