| Statistic | Reportedincidents | /100k people | Lake Charles/100k people | Louisiana/100k people | National/100k people |
| Total crime | 2,404 | n/a (estimate) | 3,083 | 2,816 | 2,119 |
| Murder | 13 | n/a | 16.7 | 10.8 | 5.0 |
| Rape | 41 | n/a | 52.6 | 33.7 | 37.5 |
| Robbery | 50 | n/a | 64.1 | 39.4 | 60.6 |
| Assault | 374 | n/a | 479.6 | 436.0 | 256.1 |
| Violent crime | 478 | n/a (estimate) | 613 | 520 | 359 |
| Burglary | 478 | n/a | 613.0 | 405.4 | 229.2 |
| Theft | 1,288 | n/a | 1,651.7 | 1,636.2 | 1,272.1 |
| Vehicle theft | 160 | n/a | 205.2 | 254.8 | 258.8 |
| Property crime | 1,926 | n/a (estimate) | 2,470 | 2,296 | 1,760 |
The Lake Charles crime rates are 45.5% higher than the national average. There are two main categories of crime - violent crime and property crime. Violent crime consists of murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. There were a total of 478 violent crimes in Lake Charles (613 per 100,000 people), which is 70.7% higher than the national average and there were a total of 1926 property crimes (2470 per 100,000 residents) which is 40.3% higher than average.
Although murder rates are essentially half of what they used to be 30+ years ago, some cities still struggle with higher rates than others. Lake Charles is one of those cities. In the last reported crime year, there were a total of 13 murders in Lake Charles, which equates to 17 murders per 100,000 people. This results in Lake Charles being a very dangerous place to live.
AreaVibes surveyed 71 local residents in Lake Charles to gauge the safety of the area. Based on the results, 31% of people answered that there was very little crime in Lake Charles and that they felt very comfortable walking alone at night. Another 69% of people responded that there was far too much crime and they would be hesitant to walk the streets alone at night. Keep in mind that the opinions of residents may vary depending on which area they live in.
Is Lake Charles a safe place to live? While the answer may not be straightforward due to variations in safety levels across the city, gaining an understanding of the overall crime rate can prove to be advantageous. In general, Lake Charles has a crime rate that is higher than the national average by 45%. Breaking this down on a daily basis, it translates to 6.59 daily incidents, encompassing 1.31 violent crimes and 5.28 property crimes. Evaluating these statistics can aid in forming a more informed perspective on the safety of Lake Charles as a potential place to call home.
Year-over-year crime rates in Lake Charles has increased by 2.8% in the last reported crime report. Comparing crime rates from one year to another offers some insight into whether or not Lake Charles is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. Crime rates are categorized by violent and property crime. Year-over-year violent crime has increased by 25.8%, while property crime has increased by 1.6%. This analysis equips individuals with crucial information for making informed decisions about living in Lake Charles.
The economic prosperity of a city's inhabitants exerts substantial influence on crime stats. Elevated poverty rates and income inequality can precipitate heightened criminal activity, as individuals may turn to illicit means to fulfill their fundamental requirements. While lower poverty rates could lead to lower Lake Charles crime rates. In Lake Charles, the poverty rate stands at 21.4%, diverging from the national average of 15.1%.
If employment opportunities are limited or if many jobs offer low wages, it can lead to higher rates of unemployment and underemployment, which could lead to an increase in Lake Charles crime rates. Areas where individuals struggle with unemployment or low wages, may be more susceptible to an increase in criminal activities as a result of financial insecurity. While lower rates of unemployment or a surplus of job opportunities could lead to a decrease in crime as their basic needs are being met. Lake Charles has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, compared to a national average of 4.9%.
Lake Charles has a population density of 1888.6 people per square mile, contrasting with the national average of 90.6 people per square mile. High population density cities are often large urban hubs teeming with diverse economic opportunities. Within these environments, income disparities can become pronounced, leading to higher poverty levels. This economic divide may contribute to an uptick in property crimes and, occasionally, violent crimes. In contrast, areas characterized by low population density typically exhibit lower Lake Charles crime rates.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Item | Lake Charles | Louisiana | National |
| Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians) | 180 | 7,311 | 558,732 |
| Police officers & civilians /1000 residents | 2.5 | 4.2 | 3.3 |
| State | Total offenders | Louisiana /100K | National /100K |
| Louisiana | 12,948 | 286 | 266 |
| City | Population | Violent crime/100k people | Property crime/100k people | Total crime/100k people |
| Prien, LA | 8,785 | 182 | 806 | 988 |
| Hackberry, LA | 1,357 | 196 | 864 | 1,059 |
| Moss Bluff, LA | 10,582 | 314 | 1,388 | 1,703 |
| Westlake, LA | 4,958 | 284 | 1,903 | 2,188 |
| Carlyss, LA | 5,379 | 459 | 2,025 | 2,484 |
| Sulphur, LA | 20,888 | 376 | 2,917 | 3,292 |
| Iowa, LA | 3,282 | 1,429 | 1,894 | 3,323 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 79,542 | 613 | 2,470 | 3,083 |
| City | Population | Violent crime/100k people | Property crime/100k people | Total crime/100k people |
| Cedar Park, TX | 79,540 | 96 | 1,198 | 1,294 |
| Rapid City, SD | 79,549 | 719 | 3,792 | 4,511 |
| Waldorf, MD | 79,554 | 450 | 2,196 | 2,646 |
| Upland, CA | 79,505 | 370 | 1,793 | 2,163 |
| Gastonia, NC | 79,485 | 849 | 3,514 | 4,364 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 79,542 | 613 | 2,470 | 3,083 |
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