Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Denton, TX
🏆 Denton 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
Denton
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($217,700 vs $296,100)
Rent averages $254/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,264)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Denton by $21,766/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 4.8%)
Denton, TX
Pros
80% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Households earn $21,766 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Baton Rouge
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
$78k less
$217,700 vs $296,100
Denton
Median Income
$21,766
$71,921 vs $50,155/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
80% lower
204.2 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Denton
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Denton, 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 | $296,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,264 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $71,921 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | DENTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 55.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 38.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 142,262 |
| Median Age | 31.9 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Denton's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 13 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 10 and Denton 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 Denton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $296,100 median home), income ($50,155 vs $71,921), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Denton, TX are about 401 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.