%
CapRateCity
Free cap rate calculators for every US market
← All comparisons

Lafayette vs Lake Charles for Rental Property Investing

Side-by-side comparison of Lafayette, LA and Lake Charles, LA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.

◉
Lafayette wins 4–3 across key metrics
Lake Charles leads on cash flow (5.01% vs 4.83% cap rate) · Lafayette leads on population growth
Metric
Lafayette, LA
Lake Charles, LA
Est. Cap Rate
4.83%
5.01%
Median Home Price
$210,000
$185,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
$1,050
1% Rule
0.55%
0.57%
GRM
15.2x
14.7x
Price / Income
4.2x
4.0x
Property Tax Rate
0.52%
0.54%
Vacancy Rate
6.4%
6.8%
Population Growth
0.6% / yr
0.4% / yr
Annual Appreciation
2.2%
2%
Population
126,000
84,000
Median Income
$50,200
$46,800

Lafayette vs Lake Charles: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Lake Charles has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 5.01% compared to Lafayette's 4.83%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $210,000 in Lafayette vs $185,000 in Lake Charles, while rents come in at $1,150/mo and $1,050/mo respectively.

Growth & appreciation: Lafayette is growing faster at 0.6% annually vs Lake Charles's 0.4%. Lafayette leads on home value appreciation at 2.2% per year.

Costs & risk: Property taxes are 0.52% in Lafayette vs 0.54% in Lake Charles. Vacancy rates of 6.4% and 6.8% are mixed — Lafayette has the tighter rental market.

Bottom line: Lafayette edges out Lake Charles on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 4.83%, Lafayette's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Lafayette or Lake Charles.

Lafayette, LA
4.83% cap rate · $210,000 median · $1,150/mo
Full analysis →
Lake Charles, LA
5.01% cap rate · $185,000 median · $1,050/mo
Full analysis →
The CapRateCity Report
Weekly market analysis: highest cap rate cities, emerging markets, and deal breakdowns. Free, no spam.