Is Lake Charles or Morgan City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Lake Charles is safer than Morgan City (Safety Score 18/100 vs 14/100), with a total crime rate of 3,083 per 100,000 versus 3,383 for Morgan City — 9% lower. Lake Charles has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Morgan City has a 44% lower rate.
Note: Lake Charles is 7.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Lake Charles — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Morgan City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lake Charles, LA
Morgan City, LA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Lake Charles | Morgan City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,082.8 | 3,382.9 | -300.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 613.0 | 551.4 | +61.6 |
| Murder Rate | 16.7 | 9.3 | +7.3 |
| Rape Rate | 52.6 | 65.4 | -12.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 64.1 | 37.4 | +26.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 479.6 | 439.2 | +40.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,469.8 | 2,831.5 | -361.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 613.0 | 467.3 | +145.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,651.7 | 2,158.7 | -507.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 205.2 | 205.6 | -0.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Charles or Morgan City safer?
Lake Charles is safer with a total crime rate of 3,083 per 100K vs 3,383 for Morgan City — a 9% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Lake Charles has a violent crime rate of 613.0 per 100K while Morgan City has 551.4. Morgan City has lower violent crime.
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.
About Morgan City, LA
Nestled on the Atchafalaya River, Morgan City is a hub for the oil and seafood industries. This small Louisiana city, famous for being the first to drill for oil offshore, boasts a significant Cajun and Creole heritage. With a safety score of 14/100 and a population coverage of 10,701, Morgan City has a total crime rate of 3,382.9 per 100,000 residents.