Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Boston, MA
🏆 Boston leads 13 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500
Boston
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $467k less ($217,700 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $971/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,981)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $39,057/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 6.6%)
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $39,057 more per year on average
39% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$467k less
$217,700 vs $684,900
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 82.1°F
Boston
Median Income
$39,057
$89,212 vs $50,155/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
39% lower
627.9 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Boston
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Boston, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $684,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,981⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $89,212 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 16.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 53.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 88.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Boston |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 43.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 49.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 665,945 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 15.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Boston's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boston leads 13 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 10 and Boston wins 13. 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 Baton Rouge to Boston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $684,900 median home), income ($50,155 vs $89,212), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Boston, MA are about 1,382 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.