Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Lake Charles, LA
The median monthly rent in Lake Charles, LA is $1,050, translating to $12,600 in annual gross rental income per unit. The rent-to-price ratio is 0.57% — well below the 1% rule, making pure cash flow investing challenging at median prices.
Renters in Lake Charles spend approximately 27% of the local median household income ($46,800) on rent. This is within the healthy 25-30% range, indicating rent is affordable relative to local incomes. There may be room for moderate rent increases, especially for updated or well-located units.
The vacancy rate in Lake Charles is 6.8%. This is a healthy vacancy rate that indicates balanced supply and demand. You should be able to find quality tenants without extended vacancies, though expect normal turnover periods of 2-4 weeks between tenants. Population growth of 0.4% annually provides stable demand.
Lake Charles's GRM (price divided by annual rent) is 14.7x. A GRM between 12-16x is moderate and typical of balanced markets. Deals can work but you need to keep expenses controlled. For comparison, the national average GRM for investment-grade rentals is approximately 13-15x.
At the median rent of $1,050/mo, a single-family rental in Lake Charles generates approximately $12,600 in gross annual income. After accounting for 6.8% vacancy ($857 lost), property taxes of $999, insurance (~$740), and maintenance (~$740), the estimated NOI is $9,264 per year, or $772/mo.