Rankings/Lake Charles, LA

Lake Charles, LA

Below AverageTier 1CBSA 29340Compare

Risk Rank: #252 of 274Month: 2026-05Score change (12m):↓ -13

34score

Composite risk percentile vs 274 metros (higher = higher risk)

Executive Summary

Lake Charles's housing market shows below-average risk, ranking 252nd of 274 metros. The market recently entered Expansion. Broad-based growth with healthy fundamentals.

Lake Charles experienced a market correction from early 2023 through mid-2023. The market has since normalized and entered Expansion.

Rent growth is roughly keeping pace with price appreciation, suggesting valuations are not stretched.

Cycle Phase

RecoveryExpansionHypersupplyRecession

1 month in current phase

Normal growth conditions with balanced fundamentals

Key Dynamics

Risk is primarily driven by migration and price momentum, while permit growth provides the most support.

Top Drivers

Migrationp66

Net AGI migration (risk inverted)

Price Momentump65

12-month HPI change

Permits per Capitap32

Permits per 1,000 residents

Market Signals

Supplementary market indicators.

Valuation

Balanced↓

Rent vs. Price Growth

+11.4%p100

Months in status1

Data through May 2026Rent growth vs price growth (rent support). Note: Affordability and Valuation measure different structural dimensions and can diverge.

Factor Details

Lower riskHigher risk

Low RiskBelow AvgNeutralElevatedHigh Risk

Price MomentumElevated

+2.2%p65

12-month HPI change — higher = overheating

Permit GrowthLow Risk

-45.7%p2

YoY permit change — higher = supply pressure

Permits per CapitaBelow Avg

2.72p32

Permits per 1,000 residents — higher = overbuilding risk

AffordabilityBelow Avg

0.26p26

Mortgage payment / income — higher = more burdened

EmploymentLow Risk

+1.2%p11

12-month employment change (risk inverted)

MigrationElevated

-$12Kp66

Net AGI migration (risk inverted)

National Context

Credit Conditions

Credit Regime

Stable—

Bank Lending Standards

-3.7Normal

Rate Change (YoY)

-38 bpsNormal

Mortgage Risk Premium

+199 bpsElevated

Stable for 9 quartersData through 2026-Q2

Supply Pipeline

Supply Regime

Accumulating—

Supply pipeline is building up while credit remains available. New units are accumulating in the system — watch for delivery pressure in coming quarters.

Pipeline Ratio

0.90Elevated

Completion-Permit Divergence

-5.9 ppNormal

Accumulating for 5 quartersData through 2026-Q2

Local Signals

Metro Permit Activity

Permit Activity

Sharp Cooling

YoY Permit Growth

-45.7%Significant pullback

Raw signal — not the composite percentile

Relative to 2016–2019 norms for this metro

Employment Concentration

Employment

Concentrated

Largest SectorGovernment 23.4%

QCEW 2024 annual averages

Internal Structure

County-level structural analysis.

County-level structural analysis is not available for this metro due to fewer than 3 qualifying counties.

Score History

Month	Phase	Score	Price	Permits	Afford	Employ	Migr
2025-12	Rec	27	31	0	23	11	66
2025-10	Rec	66	77	85	29	62	76
2025-07	Rec	64	60	85	29	66	76
2025-06	Hyp	47	2	85	20	34	76
2025-04	Rec	53	2	85	20	68	76
2025-02	Exp	52	3	85	30	49	76
2024-12	Exp	50	0	85	26	44	76
2024-09	Exp	53	4	85	28	57	76
2024-07	Rec	50	12	85	28	32	76
2024-05	Rec	53	1	85	29	61	76
2024-04	Exp	49	0	85	29	36	76
2024-02	Exp	62	23	85	45	73	76
2024-01	Rec	64	22	85	45	88	76
2023-11	Rec	59	3	85	29	93	76
2023-09	Hyp	58	0	85	26	98	76
2023-07	Hyp	59	1	85	26	98	76
2023-05	Ress	62	13	85	38	94	76
2023-03	Ress	62	11	85	40	97	76
2023-02	Hyp	63	11	85	40	100	76
2022-12	Hyp	65	16	85	48	100	76
2022-09	Hyp	62	1	85	44	100	76
2022-07	Ress	62	1	85	44	100	76
2022-05	Ress	64	6	85	52	100	76
2022-03	Hyp	62	1	85	51	91	76
2022-01	Exp	55	1	85	51	50	76
2021-11	Exp	49	2	85	52	2	88
2021-08	Exp	66	4	85	56	95	88
2021-06	Rec	65	2	85	58	93	88
2021-04	Rec	66	1	85	58	100	88
2021-02	Exp	68	3	85	68	99	88
2020-12	Exp	70	1	85	81	99	88
2020-11	Rec	70	1	85	81	100	88
2020-09	Rec	71	2	85	85	100	88
2020-06	Exp	77	40	85	88	97	88
2020-04	Exp	71	14	85	88	86	88
2020-01	Rec	72	7	85	88	100	88
2019-11	Rec	72	14	85	90	100	80
2019-10	Exp	73	19	85	90	99	80
2019-08	Exp	70	2	85	89	100	80
2019-07	Rec	70	2	85	89	99	80
2019-05	Rec	72	12	85	90	98	80
2019-03	Hyp	73	16	85	92	98	80
2019-01	Hyp	71	7	85	92	99	80

Data Vintages

Price (HPI)2026-Q1

Permits2026-05

Income2024

Employment2026-05

Migration2023