Arlington, VA vs Lake Charles, LA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Arlington
72.2
#917 nationally
Lake Charles
76.2
#371 nationally
Arlington leads in median household income ($137,387 vs $54,761). Arlington leads in walk score (69 vs 37). Lake Charles leads in cost of living index (94 vs 151).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Arlington, VA | Lake Charles, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.2 (#917) | 76.2 (#371) |
| Population | 238,643 | 79,633 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $815,538 | $206,355 |
| Median Household Income | $137,387 | $54,761 |
| Average Commute | 28.2 min | 18 min |
| Walk Score | 69 | 37 |
| Crime Level | Low | 16.8 |
| School Rating | 8.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 151 | 94 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+58.6 | R+39.6 |
C-
72.2 Score
Arlington, VA
Urban walkability meets federal opportunity
Median Home
$815,538
Population
238,643
Crime
Low
Schools
A
Southeast
View Arlington, VA →
C
76.2 Score
Lake Charles, LA
Louisiana community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$206,355
Population
79,633
Crime
High
Walk Score
37
Southeast
View Lake Charles, LA →
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