Is Lake Charles or Ruston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Lake Charles is safer than Ruston (Safety Score 18/100 vs 14/100), with a total crime rate of 3,083 per 100,000 versus 3,387 for Ruston — 9% lower. Lake Charles has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Ruston has a 37% lower rate.
Note: Lake Charles is 3.5x 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
Ruston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lake Charles, LA
Ruston, LA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Lake Charles | Ruston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,082.8 | 3,387.4 | -304.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 613.0 | 431.3 | +181.7 |
| Murder Rate | 16.7 | 13.5 | +3.2 |
| Rape Rate | 52.6 | 22.5 | +30.1 |
| Robbery Rate | 64.1 | 40.4 | +23.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 479.6 | 350.4 | +129.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,469.8 | 2,956.1 | -486.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 613.0 | 359.4 | +253.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,651.7 | 2,412.5 | -760.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 205.2 | 184.2 | +21.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Charles or Ruston safer?
Lake Charles is safer with a total crime rate of 3,083 per 100K vs 3,387 for Ruston — a 9% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Lake Charles has a violent crime rate of 613.0 per 100K while Ruston has 431.3. Ruston 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 Ruston, LA
Ruston, Louisiana, is home to Louisiana Tech University, a public research institution. Situated in Lincoln Parish, it's a small city in north-central Louisiana, known for its annual Peach Festival. With a safety score of 14/100 and a population coverage of 22,259, Ruston has a total crime rate of 3,387.4 per 100,000 residents.