Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Dayton, OH
🏆 Baton Rouge leads 14 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Dayton
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
23% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $8,712 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (8.6%)
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
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
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $132k less ($86,200 vs $217,700)
Rent averages $180/mo less ($830 vs $1,010)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Baton Rouge by $8,712/yr
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 8.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.3 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Income
$8,712
$50,155 vs $41,443/yr
Baton Rouge
Violent Crime
23% lower
1027.7 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Baton Rouge
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
8.6% vs 10.0% unemployment
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 86.7°F
Dayton
Median Home Value
$132k less
$86,200 vs $217,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.3 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 | $86,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 | $830 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 ✓ Higher | $41,443 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High ✓ Safer | 352⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 206⚠ 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 | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Dayton City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 41.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 12.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 137,305 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 20.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Dayton's 92.3 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baton Rouge leads 14 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 14 and Dayton wins 9. 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 Dayton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $86,200 median home), income ($50,155 vs $41,443), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Dayton, OH are about 755 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.