Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Chattanooga, TN
🏆 Chattanooga leads 12 of 21 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
Chattanooga
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,288
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 51°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Chattanooga
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Chattanooga by $7,548/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.1%)
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
20% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.1%)
Households earn $7,548 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$13k less
$217,700 vs $230,500
Chattanooga
Median Income
$7,548
$57,703 vs $50,155/yr
Chattanooga
Violent Crime
20% lower
823.7 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Chattanooga
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Chattanooga, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.8 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $230,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,066 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $57,703 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 34.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Hamilton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 51.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 55.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 181,288 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 53.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Chattanooga's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 12 of 21 categories. Baton Rouge wins 9 and Chattanooga 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 Baton Rouge to Chattanooga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $230,500 median home), income ($50,155 vs $57,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Chattanooga, TN are about 468 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.