1st Advantage MortgageThe median Calcasieu Parish household earns $67,564, and 17% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Calcasieu Parish
- Jobs and commutes in Calcasieu Parish
- Paychecks and income spread in Calcasieu Parish
- Renting and owning in Calcasieu Parish
- Calcasieu Parish and the counties next door
- Calcasieu Parish towns compared
- Budget math at the Calcasieu Parish median
- Calcasieu Parish households compared
- Before borrowing in Calcasieu Parish
- Checklist for Calcasieu Parish applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Louisiana
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Calcasieu Parish
Roughly 207,088 residents live in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, 7th by population among the state's 64 counties and county equivalents. It covers 1,064 square miles of land, or about 195 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Lake Charles, LA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Lake Charles is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 81,143 people (39% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in Calcasieu Parish
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 11%. Compared with Louisiana, the county leans toward manufacturing (11% against 8%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 81% drive to work alone and 8% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 7.2% of the total (8.4% statewide).
| Top industries | Calcasieu Parish share | +/- vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.6% | 0.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | +0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.8% | +3.3 pts |
| Construction | 10.2% | +1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.7% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -2.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Calcasieu Parish should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Paychecks and income spread in Calcasieu Parish
Half of Calcasieu Parish households take in less than $67,564 a year and half take in more, 11% above the Louisiana median of $60,756. Only 11 Louisiana counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Calcasieu Parish | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.0% | -3.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.9% | +0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.0% | +1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.1% | +1.3 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 33% clear $100,000. 17.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.483 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Calcasieu Parish
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,109 in Calcasieu Parish versus $1,064 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 52% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $217,000, about 3.2 times the median household income. 73% of Calcasieu Parish households own their home and 27% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1989.
| Calcasieu Parish | Louisiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,109/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $217,000 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 28% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 14% | n/a |
Because most Calcasieu Parish households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Calcasieu Parish and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 27 to 45 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Cameron Parish leads the group on income ($75,278), Newton County trails ($42,618), and Calcasieu Parish out-earns 4 of the six. The list crosses into Texas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcasieu Parish | - | $67,564 | $1,109/mo | 73% |
| Cameron Parish, LA | 27 mi | $75,278 | $1,688/mo | 95% |
| Beauregard Parish, LA | 29 mi | $65,944 | $898/mo | 85% |
| Jefferson Davis Parish, LA | 32 mi | $57,341 | $848/mo | 77% |
| Orange County, TX | 33 mi | $72,104 | $1,100/mo | 75% |
| Allen Parish, LA | 43 mi | $46,469 | $775/mo | 74% |
| Newton County, TX | 45 mi | $42,618 | $1,001/mo | 83% |
Calcasieu Parish towns compared
12 Census places fall mainly inside Calcasieu Parish; the 12 biggest are below. They account for 141,652 residents, leaving about 32% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $41,875 in Vinton to $140,278 in Hayes. Rent is cheapest in DeQuincy ($760) and steepest in Carlyss ($1,358). None of the 12 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | city | 81,143 | $59,235 | $1,109 | 9 mi |
| Sulphur | city | 20,775 | $61,760 | $994 | 0 mi |
| Moss Bluff | CDP | 12,482 | $92,036 | $1,324 | 10 mi |
| Prien | CDP | 7,119 | $87,292 | $1,292 | 7 mi |
| Westlake | city | 4,743 | $68,381 | $1,049 | 6 mi |
| Carlyss | CDP | 4,412 | $78,179 | $1,358 | 4 mi |
| Iowa | town | 3,200 | $59,779 | $1,098 | 21 mi |
| Vinton | town | 3,176 | $41,875 | $947 | 14 mi |
| DeQuincy | city | 2,931 | $44,281 | $760 | 16 mi |
| Hayes | CDP | 690 | $140,278 | n/a | 27 mi |
| Gillis | CDP | 667 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Starks | CDP | 314 | $16,088 | n/a | 19 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Budget math at the Calcasieu Parish median
How much room does a median Calcasieu Parish budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $67,564 a year is $5,630 of gross monthly income
- 20% goes to median rent ($1,109)
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,143 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Calcasieu Parish households compared
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 7.6%, against 7.8% for Louisiana.
| People and households | Calcasieu Parish | Louisiana | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.9% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.2% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.6% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.2% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.4% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Calcasieu Parish |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 45.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
Before borrowing in Calcasieu Parish
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Calcasieu Parish borrowers.
- Mobile home upkeep. 14% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Tight rental budgets. With 52% of Calcasieu Parish renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Checklist for Calcasieu Parish applicants
Quick steps for Calcasieu Parish:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in Louisiana
Calcasieu Parish borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Louisiana guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The Louisiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Calcasieu Parish earn?
The median is $67,564; 33% earn $100,000 or more and 27% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Calcasieu Parish rent compare with Louisiana?
$1,109 locally versus $1,064 for the state, 4% above.
What are the biggest places in Calcasieu Parish?
By population: Lake Charles, Sulphur, Moss Bluff, Prien, Westlake. The county has 12 Census places in all.
Will a Calcasieu Parish address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Louisiana as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Calcasieu Parish?
Start with the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.