Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Compton, CA
🏆 Baton Rouge leads 13 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Compton
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $272k less ($217,700 vs $489,400)
Rent averages $454/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,464)
19% less violent crime than Compton
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Compton by $19,573/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
Compton, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,573 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (7.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 61°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Violent Crime
19% lower
1027.7 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$272k less
$217,700 vs $489,400
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 77.2°F
Compton
Median Income
$19,573
$69,728 vs $50,155/yr
Compton
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
7.9% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Compton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $489,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,464⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $69,728 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% ✓ Higher | 3.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 261⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High ✓ Safer | 335⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 63.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Compton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 11.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 94,822 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Compton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baton Rouge leads 13 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 13 and Compton wins 10. 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 Compton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $489,400 median home), income ($50,155 vs $69,728), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Compton, CA are about 1,598 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.