Rank: 1
Lake Charles, La.
Building permits (year-over-year change): +122.5%
Median home price: N/A
Home price change: N/A
Unemployment rate: 7.3%
Lake Charles, which sits on a lake with a white sand beach, has been rebuilding since getting hit by Hurricane Rita in 2005 and by Hurricane Ike last year. The economy has been bolstered by its strong petrochemical industry and building projects, including a new nuclear power fabrication facility now under construction. The number of building permits for apartments jumped 870% during the first six months of this year, compared with the same period a year earlier. Lake Charles is known for its casinos and multiple music, culture, and food festivals. The city is home to McNeese State University and SOWELA Technical Community College.
