Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Lake Charles, LA has a Safety Score of 18/100 — higher crime than 82% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,082.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,432 of 2,971 US cities and #8 of 25 in Louisiana.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Lake Charles, Louisiana Safe?
Lake Charles, a port city in southwest Louisiana, is known for its Cajun and Creole culture. It sits on Lake Charles and the Calcasieu River, a hub for the petrochemical industry.
Lake Charles has a safety score of 18/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,082.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Lake Charles ranks #8 out of 25 cities in Louisiana and #2432 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 18th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 82% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Lake Charles is murder, at 16.7 per 100K — 2.7x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.6x the national rate.
Year over year, Lake Charles's total crime rate decreased by 13.8%, with violent crime declining 3.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Lake Charles Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 478 | 613.0 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 13 | 16.7 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 41 | 52.6 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 50 | 64.1 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 374 | 479.6 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,926 | 2,469.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 478 | 613.0 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,288 | 1,651.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 160 | 205.2 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Lake Charles vs Louisiana Average
How does Lake Charles's crime rate compare to the Louisiana state average?
| Metric | Lake Charles | Louisiana Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 613.0 | 941.0 | -34.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,469.8 | 3,691.6 | -33.1% |
| Murder Rate | 16.7 | 16.8 | -0.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,082.8 | 4,632.6 | -33.5% |
Lake Charles Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Lake Charles, Louisiana.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 77,982 | 3,082.8 | 613.0 | 2,469.8 |
| 2023 | 76,393 | 3,574.9 | 636.2 | 2,938.8 |
| 2022 | 77,054 | 3,754.5 | 632.0 | 3,122.5 |
| 2021 | 79,053 | 3,330.7 | 568.0 | 2,762.7 |
| 2020 | 79,077 | 3,715.4 | 518.5 | 3,196.9 |
| 2019 | 78,733 | 4,216.8 | 524.6 | 3,692.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Charles, Louisiana safe?
Lake Charles has a safety score of 18/100, meaning it has less crime than about 18% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,082.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Lake Charles is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
According to FBI data for 2024, Lake Charles has a violent crime rate of 613.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,469.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Lake Charles compare to the national average?
Lake Charles's total crime rate of 3,082.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 77,982 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Lake Charles?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Lake Charles include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Lake Charles safe to visit?
Like any city, Lake Charles has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 18/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.