Moving from Gonzales, LA to Lake Charles, LA?
The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Is Gonzales or Lake Charles Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Lake Charles is safer than Gonzales (Safety Score 18/100 vs 7/100), with a total crime rate of 3,083 per 100,000 versus 4,299 for Gonzales — 28% lower. Gonzales has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Gonzales has a 41% lower rate.
Note: Lake Charles is 5.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Gonzales, LA?
Gonzales — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lake Charles — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Gonzales, LA
Lake Charles, LA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Gonzales | Lake Charles | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,299.0 | 3,082.8 | +1,216.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 364.7 | 613.0 | -248.3 |
| Murder Rate | 14.0 | 16.7 | -2.6 |
| Rape Rate | 42.1 | 52.6 | -10.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 63.1 | 64.1 | -1.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 245.5 | 479.6 | -234.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,934.4 | 2,469.8 | +1,464.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 224.4 | 613.0 | -388.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 3,373.3 | 1,651.7 | +1,721.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 336.6 | 205.2 | +131.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Gonzales, LA to Lake Charles, LA?
The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gonzales or Lake Charles safer?
Lake Charles is safer with a total crime rate of 3,083 per 100K vs 4,299 for Gonzales — a 28% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Gonzales has a violent crime rate of 364.7 per 100K while Lake Charles has 613.0. Gonzales has lower violent crime.
About Gonzales, LA
Gonzales, "Jambalaya Capital of the World," is a city in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. It lies on the Mississippi River's east bank, midway between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, with a population around 12,000. With a safety score of 7/100 and a population coverage of 14,259, Gonzales has a total crime rate of 4,299.0 per 100,000 residents.
About Lake Charles, LA
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. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 77,982, Lake Charles has a total crime rate of 3,082.8 per 100,000 residents.