Lake Charles VS Houma (New Orleans, Baton Rouge: high crime, hotels, safe neighborhood) - Louisiana (LA) - City-Data Forum

Faerie88 · 06-19-2007, 10:56 AM

If anyone has the pros and cons of Lake Charles and Houma, I would love to hear them. How do these two areas compare? Which one would you move to if you were choosing? What are everyones likes and dislikes about these two areas? Thanks to all who are educating someone that has never been to LA!

SBCmetroguy · 06-19-2007, 11:01 AM

Hmmm that's a tough one. If I had my choice I'd choose neither. Nothing against either city, but I just didn't like either one really. Both are seeing about the same type of growth... mostly retail and such, but Houma is becoming more of a suburb or exurb of New Orleans. And the proximity to New Orleans from Houma is a good thing as well, when you want to hit Bourbon Street on the weekend. If I were given the choice of Houma or Lake Charles and I couldn't turn either one down, I'd say Houma.

Just be mindful of neighborhoods in Houma, as one half of the town is considered bad and the other half good. I can't remember where the dividing line is, to be honest.

Faerie88 · 06-19-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBCmetroguy

Hmmm that's a tough one. If I had my choice I'd choose neither. Nothing against either city, but I just didn't like either one really. Both are seeing about the same type of growth... mostly retail and such, but Houma is becoming more of a suburb or exurb of New Orleans. And the proximity to New Orleans from Houma is a good thing as well, when you want to hit Bourbon Street on the weekend. If I were given the choice of Houma or Lake Charles and I couldn't turn either one down, I'd say Houma.

Just be mindful of neighborhoods in Houma, as one half of the town is considered bad and the other half good. I can't remember where the dividing line is, to be honest.

As in bad, you mean higher crime? I grew up in Atlanta, on the "bad" side, so don't really want to go anyhwere like that again! I live in Beaufort, SC right now, which has its "bad" areas, but nothing I would be afraid of going through really. For the most part it is just a small southern town, almost postcard like! We are only middle class at best though, so I am concerned about where that would leave us on getting a place, since I have never been there I would like to be in a safe neighborhood, where I would not be afraid to walk the dog! Thank you for yours, and any more thoughts that might help!

SBCmetroguy · 06-19-2007, 11:47 AM

Yes, I mean as in high crime. For such a small town it's bad side REALLY is bad... nearing New Orleans or ATL levels and I assume that has a LOT to do with New Orleans. But from what I've seen and heard, the other side is definitely much better.

Faerie88 · 06-19-2007, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBCmetroguy

Yes, I mean as in high crime. For such a small town it's bad side REALLY is bad... nearing New Orleans or ATL levels. But from what I've seen and heard, the other side is definitely much better.

Good to know,

Thanks!

Doogie · 06-19-2007, 09:03 PM

I don't think I would have a big problem with Houma although I'm not too familiar with Lake Charles other than riding through it on the way to Houston. Houma is growing pretty quickly but it is relatively spread out so you should be able to find some quiet areas away from the crime with no problem.

I get the impression Lake Charles is more industrial and it also has some casino business.

They are both very close in population.

Faerie88 · 06-22-2007, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doogie

I don't think I would have a big problem with Houma although I'm not too familiar with Lake Charles other than riding through it on the way to Houston. Houma is growing pretty quickly but it is relatively spread out so you should be able to find some quiet areas away from the crime with no problem.

I get the impression Lake Charles is more industrial and it also has some casino business.

They are both very close in population.

Well, my biggest reason for choosings these two areas is the jobs, I hear there is a lot of construction in both these areas, which would benifit my husband. I am under the inpression that Houma is close enough to New Orleans for a commute, and Lake Charles had lots of damage, resulting in higher job demand.

Doogie · 06-22-2007, 07:49 PM

Actually Houma would be too far for me 'cause I don't like to drive more than 10 or 15 minutes to get to work. I'm thinking it would be pretty close to an hour depending on what part of Houma you would be in and what part of New Orleans he would be working in. I do know a couple of people who commute from Houma so it's not impossible to do. I also know someone who brings their child to soccer practice in Metairie from Houma twice a week but they carpool with two or three other kids to share the load.

It's generally not a problem right now to find construction work in N.O. but be careful - I saw on the news the other day that things are starting to slow down a bit because the money isn't flowing as well as everyone had hoped. There's plenty more work that needs to be done but fewer people have the money to do it.

WendyW. · 06-25-2007, 07:44 AM

I live outside Lake Charles. We live quite a ways in the country but I do my shopping and stuff in Lake Charles. It really is a great place. Very family friendly, alot of community spirit, etc.
There are casinos and nightlife if that is what you are looking far. Jobs are pretty decent. They've bounced back real well from Rita. Housing, lots of restaurants, shopping, etc. Not really a lot of family type stuff to do but I guess that depends on what you are looking for. We go to the parks, children's museum, etc. For big museums and the zoo we go to Houston or Baton Rouge which are both about 2 1/2 hours away. We take lots of day trips around Southwest Louisiana. There is always some sort of festival going on somewhere.
Crime really isn't bad. There's been more since Katrina with the new people that moved in but it's no where near as bad as some places. Used to, it wouldn't even cross my mind to watch my back whereas now I am more cautious but I still go on about my business as usual.
It has some good schools and some bad. They just closed the worst school, which was Lake Charles Boston. Barbe and LaGrange are pretty good schools.
Lots of hunting and fishing in the Southwest Louisiana area but that is true for the Houma area as well.
One of the differences between the two, you will notice the different industries. Right outside Lake Charles, in Westlake, there are lots of industrial plants. In Houma, there are alot of people coming in and going out on the oil rigs and boats. My husband used to work in Houma all the time for the oil rigs. Alot of the hotels and motels will be full of oilfield workers.
I probably could go on and on but that's about the jist of it.

zarabeth · 06-27-2007, 12:54 AM

Lake Charles is okay, we liked it there. I'd have liked it better without the humidity, the bugs and the hurricanes, but you can't have everything. LaGrange High is in an area I didn't care for, nor did I care for the school...we had kids in junior high at the time....I just learned they closed Boston....Barbe High is a decent school, if a bit overcrowded.....there was talk of a new school being built, but it wasn't done by the time we left last summer.

Crime is bad depending on where you live, and where you go after dark. My daughter was held up at gunpoint on Ryan Street after having dinner at Applebee's, so there you go.....some parts you just don't go into after dark, like other cities. The mall parking lot was having quite a few crime incidents as we left. Read a few pots about moving to Lake Charles, there's a recent few with a lot of information. I'd actually move back if it weren't for the wicked fire ants, the humidity and the fact it's hurricane season again...just not brave enough to face another one right now, after the damage we had with Rita. Ech.

But the town itself, is okay, it's a good town. The people are great, I miss the people more than anything else.