RANK #277 / 996 · POP 210,770 · LA
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.7%
Calcasieu Parish, located in Southwest Louisiana, is often recognized for Lake Charles, its largest city and parish seat, which serves as a hub for industry and culture. The parish is situated near the Texas border and the Gulf of Mexico, about equidistant from Houston and Baton Rouge. This location contributes to a blend of "cowboy and Cajun cultures." Commutes within Lake Charles average around 16.7 minutes, shorter than the national average. The area offers outdoor recreation with numerous parks, rivers, and lakes for fishing, boating, and hiking, including Sam Houston Jones State Park. The Creole Nature Trail, a scenic byway, also showcases the region's marshlands and wildlife.
Life in Calcasieu Parish is characterized by a lower cost of living compared to other major Louisiana metro areas. The Calcasieu Parish Public Schools district, serving over 29,000 students, is considered above average. The economy is largely driven by its role as an energy and petrochemical center, with significant infrastructure for refineries and liquefied natural gas. This industrial base, alongside the Port of Lake Charles, supports a substantial number of jobs. Recent economic activity includes investments in energy infrastructure and a new rare earth separation facility, contributing to ongoing growth in the region.
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.0x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Woodside Energy LNG Production and Export Facility (Louisiana LNG)
Woodside Energy
|
$17,500M | Under Construction |
|
Interstate 10 - Calcasieu River Bridge Replacement
Calcasieu Parish Police Jury
|
$2,300M | Under Construction |
|
Cajun Crescent Energy Center (Solar Farm)
Aypa Power
|
$440M | Planned |
|
Goos Ferry Solar Project
Sulphur Solar, LLC (Aypa Power)
|
$244M | Planned |
|
Judicial Complex
Calcasieu Parish Police Jury
|
$51M | Under Construction |
|
Vinton Dome Storage Hub (Natural Gas Storage)
Undisclosed
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Calcasieu Parish has a Boom Town Index score of 72/100, ranking #277 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.0% and a median household income of $64,370, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Calcasieu Parish is $196,900 with median rent at $1,025/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3269, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.9% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.0%. Home values changed +4.4% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.49% of Calcasieu Parish's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.