Metro area index
Home appreciation in the Lake Charles, LA metro area
FHFA HPI® data shows the Lake Charles, LA metro area's all-transactions index changed +7.7% over the year to Q2 2026, versus +2.9% for Louisiana and +3.0% for the U.S. That ranks 29th of 410 metro areas and divisions FHFA tracks.
- 1-year change
- +7.7%
- 5-year change
- +17.6%
- Since Q1 1995
- +188%
- Metro rank (1 year)
- 29th
U.S. +3.0%
U.S. +41.3%
U.S. +292%
of 410
Lake Charles, LA vs Louisiana and the U.S.
FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026
- Lake Charles, LA: 287.8
- Louisiana: 300.2
- United States: 391.6
Appreciation by time window
| Window | Metro | LA | U.S. | Gap vs LA | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +7.7% | +2.9% | +3.0% | +4.8 pts | +4.7 pts |
| 3 years | +5.1% | +6.3% | +12.9% | −1.2 pts | −7.7 pts |
| 5 years | +17.6% | +20.9% | +41.3% | −3.3 pts | −23.6 pts |
| 10 years | +33.6% | +42.1% | +93.3% | −8.4 pts | −59.7 pts |
| Since Q1 1995 | +188% | +200% | +292% | −12.4 pts | −103.7 pts |
3-digit ZIP regions in the Lake Charles, LA area
Regions with at least 10% of their 2010 population inside the metro, largest overlap first. A 3-digit ZIP region can extend beyond the metro boundary.
| 3-digit ZIP region | State | 1 year | 5 years | Since Q1 1995 | Population in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 706 · Lake Charles, LA area | LA | +4.3% | +15.1% | +182% | 78% |
Boom, bust, and recovery in Lake Charles, LA area
Lake Charles, LA area's index peaked in Q2 2009, fell 3.0% to its low in Q3 2011, and regained its peak in Q4 2012, about 3.5 years after the top. Today it sits +58.0% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared
| Area | 2000s peak | Low point | Peak to low | Back to peak | Today vs peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | Q2 2009 | Q3 2011 | -3.0% | Q4 2012 (3.5 yrs) | +58.0% |
| LA | Q1 2009 | Q2 2011 | -4.2% | Q2 2014 (5.2 yrs) | +53.7% |
| U.S. | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -19.0% | Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs) | +89.3% |
Appreciation after inflation
Adjusting for consumer price inflation, Lake Charles, LA area's index has changed +30.0% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation
| Window | Inflation (CPI-U) | Metro after inflation | LA after inflation | U.S. after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.9% | +3.7% | -0.9% | -0.8% |
| 3 years | +9.8% | -4.3% | -3.2% | +2.8% |
| 5 years | +24.0% | -5.2% | -2.5% | +13.9% |
| 10 years | +39.1% | -3.9% | +2.1% | +39.0% |
| Since Q1 1995 | +121% | +30.0% | +35.6% | +76.8% |
If you bought in the Lake Charles, LA area in…
An example $300,000 purchase grown at the metro index rate to Q2 2026.
| Bought in | Index change | $300,000 then, at the metro rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 1995 | +186% | $857,854 |
| Q2 2000 | +141% | $722,717 |
| Q2 2005 | +98.1% | $594,403 |
| Q2 2010 | +60.1% | $480,377 |
| Q2 2015 | +44.3% | $432,884 |
| Q2 2020 | +21.3% | $363,902 |
| Q2 2021 | +17.6% | $352,925 |
| Q2 2023 | +5.1% | $315,339 |
| Q2 2025 | +7.7% | $323,152 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much have home prices risen in the Lake Charles, LA area?
- FHFA HPI® data for the Lake Charles, LA metro area shows changes of +7.7% over one year, +17.6% over five years, and +33.6% over ten years to Q2 2026, and +188% since Q1 1995.
- Is the Lake Charles, LA area beating the national average?
- Over the past year the metro's index moved +4.7 pts versus the U.S.; over five years the gap is −23.6 pts.
- What area does this metro index cover?
- FHFA computes metro indexes using the counties in each OMB-defined metropolitan statistical area. The index covers the whole area, so individual neighborhoods and homes can differ from it.