Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Lake Charles compared to Scranton? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Lake Charles | Metric | Scranton | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85 | Cost of Living Index | 85 | +0.0% |
| $175,000 | Median Home Price | $155,000 | -11.4% |
| $850 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,000 | +17.6% |
| $48,500 | Median Household Income | $52,400 | +8.0% |
| 0.6% | Property Tax Rate | 1.5% | +150.0% |
| 4.8% | Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | -8.3% |
| 21 min | Average Commute | 22 min | +4.8% |
| 34.8 | Median Age | 40 | +14.9% |
| 215,000 | Metro Population | 560,000 | +160.5% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Lake Charles costs $1,023/month (PITI) compared to $1,023/month in Scranton — a difference of $0/month or $0/year. The price-to-income ratio is 3.6x in Lake Charles versus 3.0x in Scranton, suggesting Scranton is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 4.8 years to save a down payment in Lake Charles compared to 3.9 years in Scranton.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Lake Charles | Scranton |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $48,500 | $52,400 |
| State Income Tax | $1,080 | $1,609 |
| Federal Income Tax | $3,691 | $4,159 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $3,710 | $4,009 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $1,050/yr | $2,325/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 4.5% | 6.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $8,481 (17.5%) | $9,777 (18.7%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $40,019 | $42,623 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $8,481 in Lake Charles (17.5% effective) versus $9,777 in Scranton (18.7% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $40,019 in Lake Charles and $42,623 in Scranton. Property taxes add $1,050/year on the median Lake Charles home versus $2,325/year in Scranton.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $48,500 in Lake Charles (COL 85) and relocate to Scranton (COL 85), you would need $48,500 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means your salary should stay roughly the same.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Lake Charles is 21 minutes versus 22 minutes in Scranton, a difference of 1 minutes each way. Scranton's lower unemployment rate of 4.4% versus 4.8% suggests a stronger job market. Scranton skews slightly older with a median age of 40 vs 34.8 in Lake Charles.
Lake Charles and Scranton have very similar costs of living, with COL indices of 85 and 85 respectively (national average = 100). Day-to-day expenses, housing, and taxes are comparable between the two metro areas.
The median home price in Scranton is $155,000, which is $20,000 more than Lake Charles's median of $175,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,000/month in Scranton vs $850/month in Lake Charles, a difference of $150/month or $1,800/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $48,500 salary in Lake Charles is equivalent to $48,500 in Scranton. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Lake Charles's COL index of 85 vs Scranton's 85. Conversely, $52,400 in Scranton equals $52,400 in Lake Charles.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $8,481 (17.5% effective rate) in Lake Charles vs $9,777 (18.7% effective rate) in Scranton. Property taxes on the median home are $1,050/year in Lake Charles (0.6% rate) vs $2,325/year in Scranton (1.5% rate). Sales tax rates are 4.5% in Louisiana and 6.0% in Pennsylvania.
Lake Charles median household income: $48,500/yr. Scranton median household income: $52,400/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $850 in Lake Charles vs $1,000 in Scranton. Annualized that is $10,200 vs $12,000.
Lake Charles offers a lower cost of living (index 85 vs 85), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Scranton typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Lake Charles and Scranton numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Lake Charles vs Scranton cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .