Signals
Moss Bluff
Lake Charles
Opportunity
62 · Top 38%
vs55 · Bottom 47%
Climate
76 · Top 26%
vs76 · Top 26%
Physical resilience
11 · Bottom 7%
vs11 · Bottom 7%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 8%
vs83 · Top 46%
Schools
78 · Top 16%
vs45 · Bottom 41%
Access
98 · Top 19%
vs98 · Top 19%
Economic stability
48 · Bottom 29%
vs31 · Bottom 8%
Measured values
| Metric | Moss Bluff | Lake Charles | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,482 | 81,143 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $92,036 | $59,235 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,390 | $35,860 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 820/sq mi | 1,709/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $252,900 | $214,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,324 | $1,109 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 81.0% | 60.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.9% | 0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.0% | 29.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 23.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 92°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 43°F | 43°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 59.7" | 59.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 4 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 18.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 44.1 | 36.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 30 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.67 | 12.47 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 39.7% | 26.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 53.0% | 40.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 42.9% | 65.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Moss Bluff
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, tornado, inland flooding.
Lake Charles
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, tornado, inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Moss Bluff
68
Your Score
—
Area Score
Lake Charles
55
Your Score
51
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Moss Bluff, LA · Lake Charles, LA · How this is calculated: methodology