You'll find Calcasieu Parish home to over 208,000 residents, with nearly 25% under 18 and a 72.8% homeownership rate. Median home values sit around $217,000, well below the national average, while manufacturing, healthcare, and retail jobs drive a median household income of $67,564. Schools earn a B grade. Stick around, and you'll uncover exactly what makes this community tick.

Who Lives in Calcasieu Parish Today?

How many people actually call Calcasieu Parish home? You'll find around 208,466 residents here, settled across roughly 1,064 square miles. That's about 194 people per square mile—room to breathe while staying connected to neighbors.

International migration remains limited, with foreign-born residents making up just 3.6% of the population.

Your neighbors tend to stay put: 87.2% lived in the same house one year ago. With a median age near 37, you're part of a stable, multigenerational parish. Nearly 90% of residents hold a high school diploma or higher.

How Much Does Housing Cost in Calcasieu Parish?

Where does your money go once you decide to buy in Calcasieu Parish? Your budget shapes where you belong, from Lake Charles charm to Moss Bluff comfort.

Homes sell near asking price, and rising rents show many neighbors are choosing to settle down, finding their place among us. Countywide, homes are typically selling 2.72% below asking price, reflecting a buyers market where negotiation room still exists.

What Jobs and Industries Drive the Local Economy?

If you're job hunting in Calcasieu Parish, you'll find health care, retail, and manufacturing leading the way in resident employment, with major players like the Calcasieu Parish School Board and Westlake Chemical anchoring the job market. Manufacturing and oil & gas extraction stand out as the top-paying industries, offering median wages well above $100,000 in some cases. Whether you're drawn to the steady growth in trade and professional services or the high earnings in energy and chemical production, you'll see how these sectors shape both the local economy and your potential paycheck. With a median household income of $67,564, the local job market's earning potential is reflected in the financial well-being of area residents.

Key Employment Sectors

Why does health care top the list of Calcasieu Parish's employers? You'll find nearly 13,902 residents working in Health Care & Social Assistance, followed by Retail Trade and Manufacturing. Add in Accommodation & Food Services and Transportation & Warehousing, and you're part of a community built on diverse, connected industries. Your neighbors work in offices, sales floors, and production lines, reflecting shared economic roots. Manufacturing stands out as the highest paying industry, offering residents an average wage of $105,724. Unemployment data and veteran demographics tell part of your community's story too—with 11,824 veterans in the population, your workforce carries service-driven values. Supporting these industries is a workforce earning a median household income of $67,564, reflecting the parish's overall economic stability. Whatever sector you join, you're contributing to a parish economy that works together.

Top-Paying Industries

Beyond the sheer number of jobs, you'll notice a clear hierarchy in what those jobs actually pay. If you're chasing top industry payroll, look to mining, oil & gas, and manufacturing, where median earnings often top $100k. You'll find yourself among plant managers, petroleum engineers, and instrumentation technicians—roles built on certifications, apprenticeships, and hands-on training. Unionized occupations and hazardous-duty premiums push wages higher still, rewarding those who join skilled trade communities. Wholesale trade rounds out the leaderboard, offering strong compensation for logistics and technical sales professionals. The construction and extraction sector also stands out locally, employing 7.4% of the workforce compared to just 4.1% nationally.

Workforce and Payroll Trends

Once you look past the paychecks, you'll find the parish's job base runs on a handful of dominant sectors. You'll notice petrochemical plants, schools, hospitals, and public agencies anchoring most payrolls, with construction trades filling gaps during turnarounds and rebuilding work. Unemployment trends stay closely tied to energy cycles, dipping when refinery projects ramp up and rising during lulls. Wage dispersion runs wide, too—you'll see skilled trades and healthcare roles command strong pay, while retail and hospitality jobs sit lower on the scale. If you're building a career here, you'll want training that matches employer demand, especially in technical and industrial trades.

Is Calcasieu Parish Affordable to Live In?

How affordable is Calcasieu Parish? You'll find housing costs here friendlier than much of the nation, with median home values near $217,000—35% below the national median. Renters spend about 31% of income on rent, landing in "stretched" territory, though many households manage comfortably. With a median household income of $67,849, residents here enjoy purchasing power that covers essentials while leaving room for discretionary spending.

Here's what shapes your budget:

• Housing costs: $1,109 median rent, $1,596 mortgage payment
• Broadband access: 86.3% of households stay connected
• Transportation: 21-minute average commute keeps costs manageable
• Community fit: 72.8% homeownership rate builds neighborhood stability

You'll join a community where affordability and belonging go hand in hand, even as some households navigate real financial pressures. Notably, Calcasieu's rent burden sits slightly below Louisiana's state average of 32.7%.

How Good Are the Schools and Colleges Here?

What kind of education can you expect for your kids? Calcasieu Parish's education data shows a district earning a B grade (87.2), outpacing the state's 80.9 average. Your children join nearly 94% of students attending A, B, or C-rated schools, with 31 schools earning Top Gains status this year. You'll find strong college readiness too: AP scores hitting 77% proficiency, 354 students dual-enrolled through McNeese State University, and 12,384 college credits earned district-wide. With 96 CTE seniors recognized for career commitments and dedicated Career Coaches reaching 5,200+ students, your family becomes part of a community invested in every student's future. Behind these outcomes stands a robust staff of 4,025.58 full-time equivalent employees supporting classrooms across the parish. The district serves 56 schools with a total enrollment of 29,282 students.

What Is the Daily Commute Like in Calcasieu Parish?

If you're commuting in Calcasieu Parish, you're likely spending around 21 minutes getting to work, well under the national average. This figure comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's 5-year estimate of mean commuting time for workers in the parish. Over the course of a year, this adds up to roughly 149 hours spent on the road. You're also probably driving alone, as the vast majority of workers here skip carpooling, transit, or biking in favor of their own vehicle. Expect to head out the door between 6:30 and 7:30 AM, when most of your neighbors are hitting the road too.

Average Commute Times

Picture your morning drive, and you'll find it's mercifully short in Calcasieu Parish. Your commute times average around 21 minutes, beating both Louisiana and national numbers. You're part of a community that values time together over time in traffic, and these travel patterns prove it:

• You'll spend roughly 21 minutes getting to work, on average.
• You're unlikely to join the "super-commuter" crowd—under 2% travel more than 90 minutes.
• You'll notice steady, predictable trends year after year.
• You're commuting less than folks in Jefferson Davis Parish or Newton County, TX.

That's more time for what matters: home, family, and neighbors.

Commuting Methods and Habits

How do you get to work each morning? Like most of your neighbors, you're probably behind the wheel—alone. That shared experience connects you to a community built around convenience. Carpooling comes next, a small nod to togetherness on the road. Few rely on public transportation, and walking or biking stays rare. Your daily habits reflect local rhythms, not broader sustainability trends. On average, your commute takes about 22.8 minutes, noticeably shorter than the typical American worker's trip.

You're part of a place where getting to work feels familiar, steady, and shared by everyone around you.

How Safe Is Calcasieu Parish?

Safety in Calcasieu Parish comes down to the numbers, and they tell a mixed but improving story. Violent crime fell about 41% since 2020, landing near 289 per 100,000 residents. Property crime still leans heavily on theft.

• Larceny-theft drives most property crime
• Burglary and vehicle theft stay steady
• Homicides remain low, showing strong investigative work

You'll notice crime reporting quirks and agency differences between the Sheriff's Office and Lake Charles PD shape these totals across agencies, but you're part of a community trending safer every year, giving you peace of mind.

What Makes Calcasieu Parish Feel Like Home?

Why does Calcasieu Parish feel like home for so many residents? You'll find stability here: 72.8% own their homes, and 87.2% stayed put over the past year. With 24.6% of the population under 18, you're surrounded by families building roots. Southern traditions and faith-based communities shape daily life, while low urban density keeps neighborhoods relaxed and connected to nature. You'll enjoy easy access to bayous, fishing, and Gulf recreation. Thoughtful environmental policy supports hurricane recovery and long-term resilience, so you're part of a community that rebuilds together and values the land it calls home. The median household income of $67,564 reflects the economic foundation that helps many families maintain this sense of stability and belonging.

Who Thrives Most in Calcasieu Parish?

If you own a home or you're raising a family, you'll find Calcasieu Parish built for you—72.8% homeownership, stable neighborhoods, and 87% of residents staying put year after year tell that story. You'll also do well as a skilled worker, since local employers in health care, retail, and transportation back a $4.275 billion payroll and median incomes near $67,600. Suburban pockets like Moss Bluff and Prien sweeten the deal further, offering household incomes above $87k and poverty rates under 9%. Renters, however, face a tighter squeeze, with median gross rent reaching $1,109 per month across the parish.

Homeowners And Families Flourish

How does homeownership shape who thrives in Calcasieu Parish? You'll find that owning your home builds real housing wealth here, with 72.8% of residents holding that stake, well above the national average. This ownership stability runs deepest among married-couple and family households, who enjoy median incomes near $105,181. Across the parish overall, the median household income sits at $67,564, underscoring how homeownership significantly boosts family earnings above the broader average.

You're part of a community where:

• Married families earn nearly double the parish median income
• 67.7% of homeowners actively build equity through mortgages
• Property values climbed 4.08% in just one year
• Family households anchor stable, established neighborhoods

Skilled Workers Find Opportunity

Beyond homeownership, your paycheck matters just as much in determining how well you'll thrive here. If you're skilled in manufacturing, healthcare, construction, or logistics, you'll find steady demand and strong wages. Nearly 10,000 residents work in manufacturing, while healthcare employs over 13,000, fueled by hospitals and an aging population. SOWELA and McNeese State University keep training pipelines full, feeding trades like welding, electrical work, and nursing. Construction and oil, gas, and extraction jobs offer premium pay for site-skilled workers. Educational, health, and social services make up 25.2% of total employment, the largest single industry share in the parish. These opportunities support healthy homeownership trends, and growing immigrant communities add valuable expertise across trades, strengthening the workforce you'll belong to.

Should Calcasieu Parish Be Your Next Move?

Why consider Calcasieu Parish for your next chapter? You'll find a community built for belonging, where affordable homes, steady jobs, and welcoming neighbors create real roots.

• Affordability: Median home values near $217,000 keep ownership within reach.
• Job security: Manufacturing and healthcare sectors offer stable, well-paying careers.
• Family-friendly: Nearly 25% of residents are under 18, creating a youthful, connected community.
• Homeownership pride: 72.8% own their homes, beating the national average.

You'll belong here—come see why neighbors stay for generations.

Conclusion

You've seen the numbers, the neighborhoods, and the industries that keep Calcasieu Parish running. If you value affordable housing, steady jobs in energy and manufacturing, and a genuine sense of community, you'll likely feel right at home here. It's not perfect—weather risks and school quality vary by district—but if Southwest Louisiana's blend of small-town warmth and economic opportunity appeals to you, Calcasieu Parish deserves a serious look.