Gillis
Newer Acadian-style homes next to established ranchers
The town's residential areas come into view on the shoulders of well-paved country roads as drivers turn at Gillis' only stoplighted intersection. The further one drives down Gillis Cutoff or Topsy Road, ranchers set far back on massive lots display Gillis' agricultural roots. But these homes are often occupied by multigenerational owners and rarely sell. Far more common are manufactured homes and new construction located in growing subdivisions. Single- and double-wide manufactured homes sell for between $100,000 and $185,000, often found in tightly packed communities. Next door, single-family subdivisions like Oak Meadows contain a mix of newer homes, some built around the early 2000s, and others built within the last 5 years. The vast majority of Gillis' new slab homes are built in an Acadian style, featuring tall, shingled roofs and natural sidings, causing them to sell for a higher price range of $200,000 to $230,000.
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Boudin balls and burgers from Gillis Grocery
Its frontier-themed businesses especially illustrate the small-town charms and design of Gillis. The Gillis Grocery, a food market at a busy intersection, invites travelers in off U.S. Highway 171 with its warm wooden exterior. Inside, shoppers find a full-service deli counter serving regional delicacies like boudin balls, crawfish pie and chicken gizzards, plus standard fares like burgers and fried foods. Also sold there are essential grocery items. Next door, yet another old saloon-like building houses Gillis Meat Market, which offers a place in town for choice cuts of duck medallions and other meats, plus prepared foods like boudin. Aside from those options, the closest full-scale grocery store is a Walmart Neighborhood Market roughly 5 miles south in Moss Bluff. There are additional restaurants to try on the way to and from Moss Bluff, like Los Ponchos Mexican Grill, a regional chain famous for its buy-one-get-one deal on margaritas.
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Farmers market at Gillis Meat Market
With very few businesses in town, the Gillis Trade Days farmers market tends to draw large crowds seeking organic fruits, veggies and other produce without driving all the way south to Moss Bluff. Religion is also an essential generator of community bonds in Gillis. Some residents attend weekly services at First Baptist Gillis in addition to special events like New Year's Eve parties and a Thanksgiving Festival. Additionally, the church hosts camps that are open to the public, which help keep kids occupied during summer break.
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Fully car-dependent, no sidewalks
Roughly 20 miles of highway separate Gillis from the job centers around Lake Charles, making it a car-dependent area. Paratransit bus services stop roughly 8 miles shy of town, although local schools do provide transportation to students. There are no neighborhoods with sidewalks in town, but traffic is so low that most residents walk on residential streets without much worry for their safety.
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School playgrounds and trips to parks in Moss Bluff
Without a park in town, many residents make do with their own private pools and backyard playsets. Louisiana state law also allows for the public use of school buildings, including the playground at Gillis Elementary. Roughly 7 miles south, the Don Manuel Memorial Sports Complex maintains 10 baseball diamonds, shaded basketball courts and a multipurpose sports field. Recent investments seek to improve the park's amenities, including a new playground and pickleball courts for the fall 2024 season. Gillis is also known for an outdoorsy lifestyle, perhaps even more than suburban Moss Bluff. But with few navigable waterways in Gillis, anglers have to hitch their small craft and trail it south to River Bluff Park if they want to use a public boat ramp and put in their small craft.
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Small class sizes at Gillis Elementary
Students in Gillis begin school in town at Gillis Elementary, which has an overall Niche grade of B. Distinguished from other schools in the district for its small class sizes, students receive personalized attention with an average class size of 15 students per teacher, which is below the national average of 17 students. Once they reach 6th grade, students head south to attend Moss Bluff Middle School, which has a B-plus Niche score. By ninth grade, students begin attending Sam Houston High School, also in Moss Bluff. In addition to a B-plus Niche score, the school boasts other distinctions, like a spot in the top 55 public high schools for athletes in Louisiana.
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Septic systems and bayou flood zones
Although Gillis is further north and of slightly higher elevation than most portions of the Lake Charles area, it is still prone to flooding, mainly because Gillis does not have a sewer system. All homes in the area rely on mechanical septic sewers for wastewater disposal, which presents its own struggles and costs with upkeep. Heavy rain runs off streets into parallel drainage trenches that connect with a network of small bayous segmenting the landscape. Several portions of town are thus designated flood zone AEs – a special hazard flood zone. Structures in these areas are more at risk than others and often require flood insurance.
Written By
Tom Jakob
Photography Contributed By
Khiem Huynh
Video By
Houston Knight
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Lauren Dunn
Lauren Dunn
Coldwell Banker Ingle Safari Realty
(337) 508-1876
81 Total Sales
1 in Gillis
$230,000 Price
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Deborah Anderson
Deborah Anderson
Responds QuicklyCENTURY 21 Bessette Flavin
(337) 485-6949
190 Total Sales
1 in Gillis
$248,900 Price
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Robbie Ingle
Robbie Ingle
Coldwell Banker Ingle Safari Realty
(337) 426-9074
1,377 Total Sales
15 in Gillis
$34K - $384K Price Range
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Lydia Holland
Lydia Holland
RE/MAX ONE
(337) 508-0275
516 Total Sales
6 in Gillis
$55K - $331K Price Range
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Chad Carroll
Chad Carroll
Latter & Blum Compass-LC
(337) 508-0185
443 Total Sales
3 in Gillis
$51K - $300K Price Range
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Kay Vaughan
Kay Vaughan
Latter & Blum Compass-LC
(337) 508-0058
108 Total Sales
2 in Gillis
$331K - $359K Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
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Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Gillis | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 2 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 4 |
| Burglary | 1 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1 | 4 |
| Larceny | 1 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 1 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Gillis Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Gillis, Lake Charles sell after 44 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Gillis, Lake Charles over the last 12 months is $475,000.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$323,100
Median Sale Price
$475,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$279,500
Median Change From 1st List Price
5%
Last 12 months Home Sales
4
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$189
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
80
Number of Homes for Sale
6
Median Year Built
2017
Months of Supply
18.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,929
On par with the national average
1,924
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
16,552
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
894
Median Age
36
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
29.3%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
14.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$88,372
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$97,519
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
92.8%
College Graduates
19.5%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
6.5%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
67.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
60''
Average Winter Low Temperature
44°F
Average Summer High Temperature
92°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
32
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
24
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Prien
Suburban south side of Lake Charles known for its new homes, parks and top schools
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