Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Dallas, TX
🏆 Dallas 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
Dallas
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Rent averages $295/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,305)
Homes cost $53k less ($217,700 vs $270,700)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Dallas by $13,830/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.0%)
Dallas, TX
Pros
36% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $13,830 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Baton Rouge
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
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
$53k less
$217,700 vs $270,700
Dallas
Median Income
$13,830
$63,985 vs $50,155/yr
Dallas
Violent Crime
36% lower
658.2 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Dallas
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Dallas, 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 | $270,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,305 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $63,985 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 11.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 36.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | DALLAS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 57.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Dallas's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 13 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 10 and Dallas 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 Dallas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $270,700 median home), income ($50,155 vs $63,985), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Dallas, TX are about 369 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.