Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Baton Rouge, LA
🏆 Baton Rouge leads 12 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
122,216
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
12
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.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
71% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Households earn $28,391 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Baton Rouge
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($217,700 vs $416,500)
Rent averages $462/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,472)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $28,391/yr
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
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$28,391
$78,546 vs $50,155/yr
Ann Arbor
Violent Crime
71% lower
302.5 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$199k less
$217,700 vs $416,500
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Baton Rouge, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $217,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,010 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $50,155 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 279⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 36.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | East Baton Rouge Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 67.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 225,500 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 31.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 47.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 20.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Baton Rouge's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baton Rouge leads 12 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 11 and Baton Rouge wins 12. 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 Ann Arbor to Baton Rouge or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $217,700 median home), income ($78,546 vs $50,155), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Baton Rouge, LA are about 915 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.