Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Baton Rouge, LA
🏆 Albany leads 14 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
21% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (8.0%)
Households earn $4,581 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Baton Rouge
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 33°F
Rent averages $120/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,130)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Albany
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Albany by $4,581/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Median Income
$4,581
$54,736 vs $50,155/yr
Albany
Violent Crime
21% lower
816.9 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Albany
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
8.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Baton Rouge, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $217,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $1,010 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 ✓ Higher | $50,155 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 279⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 36.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | East Baton Rouge Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" ✓ Drier | 67.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 225,500 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 47.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 20.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Baton Rouge's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albany leads 14 of 23 categories. Albany wins 14 and Baton Rouge wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Baton Rouge or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $217,700 median home), income ($54,736 vs $50,155), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Baton Rouge, LA are about 1,276 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.