If you are moving to Southwest Louisiana to work at Woodside, one of your first questions is probably simple:
Where should I live?
The Woodside plant is being built in Calcasieu Parish, near Carlyss, on the west bank of the Calcasieu River.
You may also know it as Driftwood, or as the Bechtel job. Same site.
Either way, that location is good news for your drive.
Unlike the LNG projects being built down in Cameron Parish, this site sits right next to real towns with homes, schools, and stores.
For many workers, that means looking at places like Carlyss, Sulphur, Westlake, Lake Charles, Moss Bluff, Vinton, or Iowa.
This guide will help you understand the area, the drive, home prices, renting versus buying, and what to think about before you move. If you are new to the area in general, our guide to moving to Lake Charles covers the bigger picture. And if you are coming off the CP2 job in Cameron Parish (or heading there next), see our Venture Global CP2 Relocation Guide.
What Is The Woodside Project?
Woodside Energy is building a large LNG export terminal in Calcasieu Parish, near Carlyss.
Around here you will hear it called a few different things, and they all mean the same job site.
Most people call it Woodside, after the company that owns and operates it.
A lot of people still call it Driftwood. That was the original name under Tellurian, before Woodside bought the company in 2024. If you have been in this market a while, that is probably the name you know it by.
The official project name is Louisiana LNG. You will see that on paperwork and in the news.
Bechtel is the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor, so plenty of workers just call it the Bechtel job.
Same plant. Four names.
Woodside approved about $17.5 billion in capital for the project in April 2025. The company has called it the largest foreign direct investment in Louisiana history.
The first phase is a three-train development with a capacity of 16.5 million tonnes per year. The site is permitted for more than 27 million tonnes per year, which means there is room to keep building after the first phase.
Bechtel says the workforce is expected to reach about 5,000 workers at peak construction.
How Long Will Woodside Construction Last?
This is not a short project.
Woodside made its final investment decision in April 2025 and construction started shortly after.
The company reported the three-train foundation phase at 22 percent complete at the end of 2025, and it is targeting first LNG in 2029.
As of the May 2026 report filed with federal regulators, site work, heavy civil work, and marine work were all still underway.
There is also room to grow. The site is permitted for two more LNG trains beyond the first three.
That matters when you are deciding where to live.
If you expect to be here for several years, it may make sense to compare buying a home with paying rent or staying in an extended-stay hotel.
How Far Is Woodside From Lake Charles?
The site is on the west bank of the Calcasieu River, south of Carlyss.
That puts it much closer to town than the LNG plants being built in Cameron Parish.
If you live in Carlyss or Sulphur, you are on the same side of the river as the job site.
You do not have to cross the I-10 bridge through Lake Charles to get to work.
That one detail is worth more than most people realize when you are driving it twice a day for four years.
Your actual drive will still change based on where you live, which gate you use, road work, weather, and shift traffic.
If you are working 10-hour or 12-hour shifts, an extra 15 or 20 minutes each way adds up fast.
Where Should You Live If You Work At Woodside?
There is no one right answer.
The best place depends on your family, your budget, and how much driving you are willing to do.
Here are the main areas to look at.
Carlyss
Carlyss is the closest community to the job site.
It sits south of Sulphur on the west side of the river, which puts you on the right side of the water and closest to the plant.
It is quieter and more spread out than Sulphur, with larger lots and a lot of newer construction.
The tradeoff is that Carlyss is smaller. You will do most of your shopping and errands in Sulphur.
If the shortest drive is your top priority and you still want a normal neighborhood, this is usually where that conversation starts.
View homes for sale in Carlyss →
Sulphur
Sulphur is the practical center of gravity for this project.
You are on the west side of the river, close to the site, and you have grocery stores, restaurants, schools, medical care, and everything else you need day to day.
Sulphur also has the most homes for sale in the price ranges most project workers are shopping.
If you are moving a family here and you want one town that covers work, school, and daily life, this is the one most people land on.
View homes for sale in Sulphur →
Westlake
Westlake is north of Sulphur, still on the west side of the river.
It is smaller and often more affordable than Sulphur.
You are a little farther from the job site, but you are closer to Lake Charles if your spouse works in town.
View homes for sale in Westlake →
Lake Charles
Lake Charles gives you the most choices when it comes to homes, apartments, restaurants, shopping, and things to do.
It can be a good fit if your spouse needs work in town or if your family wants to be closer to the center of everything.
The tradeoff is the bridge.
Depending on where you live in Lake Charles and which route you take, you may be crossing the Calcasieu River every day.
Where you live inside Lake Charles matters too. South Lake Charles is a very different daily drive than the north side of town.
View homes for sale in Lake Charles →
Moss Bluff
Moss Bluff is north of Lake Charles.
It is popular with people who want more room, bigger lots, and a quieter area.
The tradeoff for a Woodside worker is the drive. You are going north to get home and south to get to work.
Moss Bluff usually makes more sense for someone who cares more about the home and the land than about having the shortest commute.
View homes for sale in Moss Bluff →
Vinton
Vinton is west of Sulphur, closer to the Texas line.
It tends to have the lowest home prices in the area.
It may make sense if your spouse works toward Orange or Beaumont, or if you want the most land for your money.
View homes for sale in Vinton →
Iowa
Iowa is east of Lake Charles.
You can often find newer homes and larger lots there.
It can work well for a family, but it will give you a longer drive to Woodside than Carlyss or Sulphur, and you will be crossing town to get there.
What Do Homes Cost Near Woodside?
Home prices are different from town to town.
They also change based on the age of the home, neighborhood, lot size, condition, and how much land comes with it.
As of summer 2026, Realtor.com showed these median asking prices:
| Area | Median asking price |
|---|---|
| Sulphur | about $229,000 |
| Carlyss | about $242,000 |
| Westlake | about $229,000 |
| Lake Charles | about $252,000 |
| Moss Bluff | about $272,000 |
| Iowa | about $268,000 |
| Vinton | about $183,000 |
These are median listing prices, not the price every home sells for.
You can find homes above and below those numbers.
This is why it helps to compare areas instead of only setting a price limit.
A $250,000 home in Carlyss may give you a very different home, lot, and drive than $250,000 in Moss Bluff.
What Does It Cost To Rent?
Rent can also change a lot based on what you need.
As of September 2026, Apartments.com showed average apartment rents in Lake Charles of about:
| Unit | Lake Charles average rent |
|---|---|
| One bedroom | $1,159 per month |
| Two bedrooms | $1,359 per month |
| Three bedrooms | $1,473 per month |
Sulphur had a smaller apartment market. Apartments.com showed average rents of about $1,413 for a one-bedroom, $1,287 for a two-bedroom, and $1,208 for a three-bedroom in September 2026.
Those are averages.
Actual homes and apartments can cost more or less.
Extended-stay hotels, furnished homes, RV sites, and short-term rentals are another option, but the cost adds up quickly if you stay for several years.
Should You Rent Or Buy While Working At Woodside?
There is no answer that works for everyone.
If you are coming here for six months or one year, buying a house may not make sense.
If you expect to be here for several years, it is worth running the numbers.
When you rent, your payment gives you a place to live.
When you buy, part of your payment may help you build equity in the home.
That does not mean buying is always better.
There are costs to buying and selling a home.
You also have to think about repairs, insurance, taxes, and what you will do with the home when your work here is finished.
But if you are going to spend thousands of dollars every month on housing for three, four, or five years, it is worth comparing both choices.
Do not assume renting is your only option just because you are here for work.
Can You Buy A House If You Get Per Diem?
Yes.
Receiving per diem does not stop you from getting a mortgage.
The important part is understanding which income can actually be used to qualify.
If your per diem is tax-free, it cannot be used as qualifying income for the mortgage.
Your lender will look at your taxable qualifying income.
If money you call per diem is actually being paid to you as taxable income, it may be treated differently.
Your lender will need to look at your pay stubs, W-2s, employment history, and the loan program you are using.
So do not guess based on what another worker told you.
Have a lender look at your actual pay before you decide how much house you can afford. You can start a pre-approval here.
What If My Employer Is In Another State?
Working for a company based in another state does not automatically stop you from buying a home in Louisiana.
The lender is going to look at your employment, income, and whether your job allows you to live in the home you are buying.
For Woodside workers, the important thing is being able to show that your employment and your move to Southwest Louisiana make sense together.
If you are relocating for the job, tell your lender that from the beginning.
What About Schools?
If you are bringing kids with you, do not pick an area based on the town name alone.
The exact home address can decide which school your child attends.
Calcasieu Parish School Board has an official Find My School Zone tool, linked from the Calcasieu Parish School Board website, that lets parents check the school assigned to an address.
That is better than trusting a home listing or assuming every home in Sulphur or Carlyss goes to the same schools.
If schools matter to your move, check the exact address before you make an offer.
One advantage of this project over the Cameron Parish jobs is that you can choose your area based on schools and still keep a short drive to work.
What Should You Do Before Your Start Date?
First, find out how long you expect to work here. A one-year job and a five-year job can lead to very different housing choices.
Next, figure out how much driving you are willing to do. If you work 10-hour or 12-hour shifts, your drive matters even more.
Then talk to a lender before you start looking at homes. This is especially important if your pay includes per diem, overtime, bonuses, or other types of pay that may need to be reviewed.
After that, come see the area if you can. Carlyss, Sulphur, Westlake, Lake Charles, and Moss Bluff do not feel the same. You can look at pictures online, but that will not tell you what the drive feels like or what it is like to live there every day.
Finally, work with someone who knows Southwest Louisiana. Moving here on a job start date is different from buying a house when you already live here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Woodside project?
Woodside is being built in Calcasieu Parish, near Carlyss, on the west bank of the Calcasieu River. Woodside Energy owns and operates the project, officially named Louisiana LNG, and Bechtel is the construction contractor.
Is Woodside the same as Driftwood LNG?
Yes. The project was originally developed by Tellurian as Driftwood LNG. Woodside acquired Tellurian in 2024 and renamed the project Louisiana LNG. Locally you will hear all three names used for the same site.
Where should I live if I work at Woodside?
Carlyss and Sulphur are the two closest options and put you on the same side of the river as the job site, so you skip the I-10 bridge. Westlake is a little farther north but still on the west side. Lake Charles gives you more choices in homes and things to do, with a longer drive. Moss Bluff, Vinton, and Iowa may also work depending on your family and what matters most to you.
How long will Woodside construction last?
Construction started after the April 2025 final investment decision. Woodside reported the first phase at 22 percent complete at the end of 2025 and is targeting first LNG in 2029. The site is permitted for additional trains beyond the first phase.
How many people will work at Woodside?
Bechtel says the workforce is expected to reach about 5,000 workers at peak construction.
Can I use my per diem to qualify for a mortgage?
If your per diem is tax-free, it cannot be counted as qualifying income. If that money is being paid as taxable income instead, your lender will need to review how it is paid and whether it can be used.
Can I buy a house if my employer is based in another state?
Yes. Having an out-of-state employer does not automatically stop you from buying a home in Louisiana. Your lender will review your employment and income and make sure the move makes sense with your job.
Should I rent or buy while working at Woodside?
It depends on how long you expect to stay and what you want to do when the job is over. If you will be here for several years, it is worth comparing the cost of renting with the cost of owning instead of assuming you should rent.
Moving To Southwest Louisiana For Woodside?
You already have enough to deal with when you are starting a new job and moving to a new area.
You should not have to learn Southwest Louisiana by yourself.
Start with the areas closest to the job site and see what is actually available.
Thinking about a move in Southwest Louisiana?
Take our 60-second buyer quiz, get a free home value, or just reach out — no pressure.
