Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Carrollton, TX
🏆 Carrollton 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
Carrollton
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Rent averages $545/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,555)
Homes cost $110k less ($217,700 vs $327,300)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $45,225/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%)
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Households earn $45,225 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$110k less
$217,700 vs $327,300
Carrollton
Median Income
$45,225
$95,380 vs $50,155/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
87% lower
137.1 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Carrollton
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Carrollton, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $327,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,555⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $95,380 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 17.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 89.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 39.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 132,284 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Carrollton's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 14 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 9 and Carrollton 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 Carrollton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $327,300 median home), income ($50,155 vs $95,380), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Carrollton, TX are about 382 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.