Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Conroe, TX
🏆 Conroe 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 ✓ Larger
Conroe
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,630 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
92,475
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Rent averages $245/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,255)
Homes cost $45k less ($217,700 vs $262,500)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Conroe
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Conroe by $21,475/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 3.4%)
Conroe, TX
Pros
76% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Households earn $21,475 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$45k less
$217,700 vs $262,500
Conroe
Median Income
$21,475
$71,630 vs $50,155/yr
Conroe
Violent Crime
76% lower
243.5 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Conroe
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Conroe
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Conroe, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $262,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,255 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $71,630 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F | 62.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 51.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 92,475 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Conroe's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Conroe leads 13 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 10 and Conroe 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 Conroe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $262,500 median home), income ($50,155 vs $71,630), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Conroe, TX are about 260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.