Lake Charles housing market
Typical home value
$202K
▲ 2.3% 1 yr
Typical rent
$1,358/mo
▲ 18.9% 1 yr
12-month forecast
−0.9%
#511 of 546 metros
Gross rent yield
8.1%
#49 of 546 · U.S. 6.3%
Days to pending
95 days
▼ −8 days 1 yr
Listings with a price cut
20%
▼ −1.3 pts 1 yr
Key takeaways
- 1The typical home is worth $201,631, up 2.3% in a year and down 7% over five years.
- 2Zillow forecasts home values falling 0.9% over the next 12 months (U.S.: +1.1%).
- 3Typical rent is $1,358/mo (+18.9% YoY), a 8.1% gross yield, above the U.S. 6.3%.
- 4At 7.32% with 20% down, the typical home costs $1,108/mo in principal and interest, $250 less than renting.
- 5Homes go under contract in 95 days (−8 days vs last year); 20% of listings have had a price cut.
Market temperature
Seller's market
Buyer'sNeutralSeller's
Zillow Market Heat Index: 62/100, #25 hottest of 546 metros. Below 44 favors buyers; above 55 favors sellers.
Home values and rent
How fast homes are selling
For saleNew listings
Affordability
To buy (20% down)To rent
Source: Zillow Research (ZHVI, ZORI and market activity data).
How Lake Charles compares
| Measure | Lake Charles | United States | Rank of 546 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home value, 1-yr change | +2.3% | +1.2% | #263 |
| Home value, 5-yr change | −6.5% | +19.7% | |
| 12-month forecast | −0.9% | +1.1% | #511 |
| Rent, 1-yr change | +18.9% | +2.7% | #3 |
| Gross rent yield | 8.1% | 6.3% | #49 |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 12.4 | 15.8 | |
| Mortgage P&I on typical home | $1,108 | $2,012 | |
| Income needed to buy | $57,462 | $100,902 | |
| Days to pending | 95 | 56 |
Cities in the Lake Charles metro
2 cities with home value and rent data.
| Lake Charles | $207K | ▲ 2.1% | $1,329 | ▲ 18.9% | 7.7% |
| Sulphur | $203K | ▲ 2.9% | $1,287 | ▲ 11.7% | 7.6% |
Run the numbers
Rental property calculator
Cash flow on a typical Lake Charles rental ($202K, $1,358/mo), pre-filled.
Mortgage calculator
Monthly payment on a typical Lake Charles home.
Rent vs buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lake Charles?
Other Louisiana metros
New Orleans, LA
$257K home$1,577 rent7.4% yield
▲ 1.6% 1 yr
Baton Rouge, LA
$246K home$1,366 rent6.7% yield
▲ 2.7% 1 yr
Lafayette, LA
$200K home$1,385 rent8.3% yield
▲ 2.8% 1 yr
Shreveport, LA
$183K home$1,282 rent8.4% yield
▲ 3.8% 1 yr
Houma, LA
$181K home$1,302 rent8.6% yield
▼ 2.5% 1 yr
Monroe, LA
$167K home$1,180 rent8.5% yield
▲ 3.3% 1 yr
Alexandria, LA
$172K home$1,029 rent7.2% yield
▲ 4.0% 1 yr
Hammond, LA
$222K home$1,315 rent7.1% yield
▲ 1.0% 1 yr
Gross yield = 12 × typical rent ÷ typical home value, before expenses. Mortgage estimate: 20% down, 30-year fixed at the current Freddie Mac average, principal and interest only. Forecast: Zillow Home Value Forecast. Data refreshed Oct 26, 2026.