Lake Charles, LA vs Wake Forest, NC
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.
Lake Charles
76.2
#371 nationally
Wake Forest
68.8
#1286 nationally
Wake Forest leads in crime level (4.0 vs 16.8). Wake Forest leads in median household income ($115,159 vs $54,761). Lake Charles leads in walk score (37 vs 20).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Lake Charles, LA | Wake Forest, NC |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 76.2 (#371) | 68.8 (#1286) |
| Population | 79,633 | 54,337 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $206,355 | $513,720 |
| Median Household Income | $54,761 | $115,159 |
| Average Commute | 18 min | 31.7 min |
| Walk Score | 37 | 20 |
| Crime Level | 16.8 | 4.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 94 | 116 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+39.6 | D+25.6 |
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 →
D+
68.8 Score
Wake Forest, NC
North Carolina community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$513,720
Population
54,337
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
20
Southeast
View Wake Forest, NC →
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