ZIP Code · LA

ZIP 70605

Part of Lake Charles, LA

Pop. 40,482·Calcasieu Parish·51st most expensive ZIP in Louisiana

Median rent (all units)

$1,438/mo

Year-over-Year

+25.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

-$494

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 70605 · $1,438

More affordable than 77% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,150

1 BR

$1,160

2 BR

$1,520

3 BR

$1,820

4 BR+

$2,010

Research median

$1,520/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

February. Asking rents in ZIP 70605 usually run 1.3% below trend in February and 1.4% above it in June, about $39 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 70605 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2021.

Past year vs. the rest of Louisiana

Rent in ZIP 70605 changed +25.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 75 Louisiana ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.0%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 15 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($86,015) is $2,150 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,010).

Rank in Lake Charles

4th cheapest of 4 ZIP codes in Lake Charles.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 70601, 8 miles away, rents for 28% less ($1,039/mo), about $4,800 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 70605. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$17,256/yr

At $1,438/mo median

Location

CityLake Charles

StateLA

CountyCalcasieu Parish

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 25.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+25.5% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 70605 (Lake Charles, LA) is majority owner-occupied, 41.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

40,482

Median income

$86,015

Median age

35.3

Renters

27.7%

Age distribution

24.9%

24.8%

23%

16.3%

Under 1824.9%

18–3424.8%

35–5423%

55–6411%

65+16.3%

Gender

47.5%

52.5%

Male47.5%

Female52.5%

Race & ethnicity

77.1%

White77.1%

Black11.5%

Hispanic6.4%

Asian3.7%

Other1.3%

Education (25+)

22.4%

32.6%

41.8%

No HS diploma3.3%

HS diploma22.4%

Some college32.6%

Bachelor's+41.8%

Housing tenure

72.3%

27.7%

Owner72.3%

Renter27.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 70605 in Lake Charles, LA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,178 → $1,438

up 22.1%

Income

$81,404 → $86,015

up 5.7%

Population

40,835 → 40,482

down 0.9%

Renter share

24.7% → 27.7%

+3.0 pts

Bachelor's+

40.2% → 41.8%

+1.6 pts

Median age

35.9 → 35.3

-0.6 yrs

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 70605 in Lake Charles, LA paid around $1,178 a month. That figure now sits near $1,438, up 22.1% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $86,015 today, compared with $81,404 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. The renter share has risen from 24.7% to 27.7%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

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About renting in ZIP 70605

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 70605 covers Lake Charles, LA. The median rent here is $1,438/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,160/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,520/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($86,015/yr), ZIP 70605 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 25.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 70605?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $58,000/year (about $28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,438/mo in ZIP 70605. The local median household income is $86,015/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 70605?

Rent in ZIP 70605 has risen 25.5% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2021.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 70605?

Asking rents in ZIP 70605 are usually lowest in February, about 1.3% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 1.4% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $39 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 70605 compare to other ZIPs in Louisiana?

ZIP 70605 is in the middle among Louisiana ZIP codes for rent, ranking #51 of 92 at $1,438/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 70605 changed +25.5%, against a typical +3.0% across the 75 Louisiana ZIP codes Zillow tracks.