City profile · Louisiana · Census ACS 2023

Westlake, LA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Westlake - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

4,794
Residents
$67,691
Median income
$168,200
Median home
$1,217
Median rent (state)

Westlake - the verdict

Nationally, Westlake sits in the 47th percentile for household income and the 28th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

47th
percentile, household income
33rd
percentile, home value
37th
percentile, median rent
28th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Westlake, LA

4,794 people live in Westlake, Louisiana - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Westlake households earn a median of $67,691 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 8.6%. Home values in Westlake run a median of $168,200, and the median resident age is 37.8 years. Educational attainment runs 21.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 57.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 26 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 160% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 2187.7 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Louisiana run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Louisiana at 88.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,217 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $212 across Louisiana, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 95.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

4,794 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Louisiana

Median Household Income

$67,691 /yr

Poverty 8.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Louisiana average

How does Westlake compare to other US cities?

Westlake measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 47% higher than other cities
Home value 33% pricier than other cities
Median rent 37% pricier than other cities
Safety 28% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Louisiana, Westlake ranks #20 of 60 Louisiana cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Westlake against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Louisiana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Louisiana-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Westlake toward the top of Louisiana's cities

Among the 477 Louisiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Westlake ranks #64 - the 84th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Westlake only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#109 of 426
74th percentile in Louisiana
Median Gross Rent
#64 of 477
84th percentile in Louisiana
Median Home Value
#168 of 419
60th percentile in Louisiana
Poverty Rate
#331 of 475
30th percentile in Louisiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#128 of 477
73rd percentile in Louisiana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Louisiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

47thIncome percentile
28thSafety percentile

47th percentile nationally for median household income · 28th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Westlake's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Westlake's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 47 Avg. percentile National median
Westlake's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Westlake's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$168,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 67% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Westlake $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Westlake, LA Westlake, LA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Westlake, LA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Westlake, LA median $67,691/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Westlake, LA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Westlake, LA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
4,794
Median Income
$67,691
Median Home Value
$168,200
Median Age
37.8
Poverty Rate
8.6%
Labor force participation
57.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2187.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
284.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1903.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,600 residents4,700 residents4,800 residents4,900 residents5,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,953 residents 4,763 residents ▼ -3.8%
Westlake's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
26
housing units authorized
Single-Family
26
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 10
2020 41
2021 36
2022 13
2023 27
2024 26

Permit volume increased 160% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.6%
Carpool
20.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
2.6%
Other
1.1%

Based on 2,182 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Louisiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$40
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Louisiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Louisiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Westlake sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,217/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
95.7 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Louisiana

Winnsboro
4,777 people
Jeanerette
4,732 people
Swartz
4,691 people
Berwick
4,680 people
Monticello
4,677 people
Port Allen
4,928 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Westlake's 4,794 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Rockport, MA
4,795 people
Platte City, MO
4,793 people
Flower Hill, NY
4,793 people
Manitou Springs, CO
4,796 people
Ottawa Hills, OH
4,796 people
Timber Pines, FL
4,790 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Westlake's $67,691 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Pleasantville, IA
$67,692 median income
Helena West Side, MT
$67,692 median income
Collins, OH
$67,692 median income
Albion, IN
$67,687 median income
Laporte, CO
$67,697 median income
Guthrie Center, IA
$67,679 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Westlake, LA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Westlake, LA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 78.3% 13.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.9% White 78.3% Black or African American 13.6% Asian 5.7% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Westlake compares to nearby Louisiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Westlake (this city) 4,794 $67,691
Winnsboro 4,777 $31,635
Jeanerette 4,732 $51,311
Swartz 4,691 $69,968
Census ACS 5-year FIPS LA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Westlake, LA?

What is the population of Westlake, LA? +

Westlake, LA counts 4,794 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Westlake, LA? +

Westlake households earn a median of $67,691 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Westlake? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Westlake; the closest available measure is the Louisiana state average, a cost of living index of 88.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Louisiana vary by metro area.

Is Westlake, LA safe? +

Westlake has a total crime rate of 2187.7 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Westlake, LA? +

Homes in Westlake carry a median value of $168,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.