Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Buckeye, AZ
🏆 Buckeye leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Buckeye
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Rent averages $587/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,597)
Homes cost $124k less ($217,700 vs $341,700)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 107°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Buckeye
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $44,033/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 5.0%)
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Households earn $44,033 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 61°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $341,700
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Baton Rouge
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$124k less
$217,700 vs $341,700
Buckeye
Median Income
$44,033
$94,188 vs $50,155/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
84% lower
166.8 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Buckeye
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Buckeye, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $341,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,597⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $94,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 22.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 8.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 95,042 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 85.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Buckeye's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 14 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 9 and Buckeye wins 14. 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 Buckeye or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $341,700 median home), income ($50,155 vs $94,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Buckeye, AZ are about 1,276 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.