RANK #151 / 1001 NAT · #4 / 21 LA · POP 207,088
1YR FORECAST: +0.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +34%
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.
Calcasieu Parish's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.6% YoY, population -0.8%, wages +2.2%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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 1001 counties.
Calcasieu Parish ranks #151 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 85/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +0.7% and a median household income of $67,564 point to a county with active economic momentum.
Housing in Calcasieu Parish is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $217,000 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.31, with rents averaging $1,109/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Calcasieu Parish is losing population (-0.8% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (+0.7% employment change). Home values are +3.6% over the past 12 months. A slow-bleed pattern — not a collapse, but residents are leaving faster than employers are hiring.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.74% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Calcasieu Parish has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.