Lake Charles, LA has safety grade D+, a population of about 77,832, an overall crime rate near 754 per 100k as of 2026. For real estate investors, safety is only half the picture: pair these crime statistics with rental demand and returns to judge whether Lake Charles, LA is a sound place to buy. See the investment overview for Lake Charles, LA for median prices, rental yield and Pulse Score, or run the numbers in the ROI analyzer.
Lake Charles, LA Crime Rate and Safety Report
Lake Charles, LA crime snapshot: safety grade D+, violent crime rate 4.00 per 1,000 residents, property crime rate 3.00 per 1,000 residents. Compare nearby zip codes, hotspots, and safety recommendations below.
Safety Score
D+
High Risk
Violent Crime Rate
4.00
per 1000 residents
Safety Analysis & Recommendations
View DetailsOverall Assessment
Lake Charles, LA has moderate safety concerns with a C+ rating. Residents should remain aware of their surroundings and take appropriate precautions.
Safety Recommendations
Given the higher rate of violent crimes (53.8% of total incidents), residents should prioritize personal safety measures, avoid walking alone at night, and stay informed about local safety alerts.
Trend Analysis
With 587 total incidents, Lake Charles shows moderate crime activity. The primary concern is assault.
Comparison Insights
Lake Charles demonstrates crime rates well below national averages, showcasing effective community safety initiatives.
Lake Charles, LA Crime Analysis
Based on the provided crime data for the area represented by GEOID 16000US2241155, a total of 587 crimes were recorded. The most prevalent crime category is assault, accounting for 301 incidents, all classified as Assault Offenses. Property crime is the second most frequent, with 255 incidents, broken down into Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property (53), Stolen Property Offenses (34), Burglary/Breaking & Entering (47), Larceny/Theft Offenses (102), and Motor Vehicle Theft (19). Sex offenses are relatively low, with a total of 8 incidents, including Kidnapping/Abduction (4) and Sex Offenses (4). Homicide accounts for 6 incidents, all categorized as Homicide Offenses. Robbery is also a smaller category, with 9 incidents, all classified as Robbery. The "others" category includes 8 incidents, comprising Counterfeiting/Forgery (4), Fraud Offenses (3), and Embezzlement (1). Given the GEOID 16000US2241155, we can infer that this data pertains to a specific location within the state of Louisiana. Without additional information, it's challenging to pinpoint the exact city or area. However, we can use the GEOID to potentially identify the location as a census tract. To provide a more comprehensive analysis, the following information would be necessary: **City Name:** The specific city or town where these crimes occurred. **State Name:** Louisiana (based on the GEOID). **Population:** The population of the area covered by the GEOID. **Median Income:** The median household income for the area. **Crime Rate per 100k:** Calculated by dividing the total number of crimes by the population and multiplying by 100,000. **Safety Score/Grade:** A standardized score or grade reflecting the overall safety of the area, often based on crime rates and other factors. **Violent Crime Rate:** Calculated by dividing the number of violent crimes (homicide, sex offenses, robbery, and assault) by the population and multiplying by 100,000. In this case, violent crimes total 324. **Property Crime Rate:** Calculated by dividing the number of property crimes by the population and multiplying by 100,000. **Crime Map Data:** Geographic visualization of crime incidents. **Zip Codes Data:** Zip codes associated with the area covered by the GEOID. *Insights (based on available data):** Assault and property crimes are the most significant contributors to the overall crime rate in this area. The relatively low number of sex offenses and homicides suggests that these types of violent crimes are less prevalent compared to assault. Larceny/Theft Offenses are the most common type of property crime. Further analysis would require population data to calculate crime rates and compare them to state and national averages.
Related analysis for Lake Charles, LA
Explore related real estate, safety, and education data for Lake Charles, LA.
FAQ about crime in Lake Charles, LA
Crime rates are normalized per 1,000 residents based on reported incidents in FBI UCR and local agency feeds. We split incidents into violent, property, and other categories so you can see where the risk concentrates.
The “Safest Zip Codes” section above ranks nearby zip codes by safety score, while the “High Crime Zip Codes” section highlights areas with elevated reported crime in Lake Charles, LA.
Crime data is refreshed on a rolling basis as updated reports are published by the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer and partnering agencies.
Combine this crime report with the market overview for Lake Charles, LA and the school report linked in the “Related analysis” section to assess both safety and investment fundamentals.
Data sources & further reading
PulseReal’s analysis is built on top of these public, authoritative datasets.
Official UCR crime statistics by state and agency from the FBI.
Population, demographics, housing, and income data from the US Census Bureau.
Encyclopedic overview of the city, history, and notable landmarks.
Housing affordability, fair-market rents, and market reports from HUD.
Local unemployment and employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Bureau of Justice Statistics publications on US crime victimization.
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