Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 18 of 22 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500
Fort Wayne
Indiana
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 33°F
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Wayne by $8,078/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.8%)
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
70% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Homes cost $65k less ($152,500 vs $217,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Households earn $8,078 more per year on average
Rent averages $106/mo less ($904 vs $1,010)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 84.1°F
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Income
$8,078
$58,233 vs $50,155/yr
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
70% lower
307.5 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$65k less
$152,500 vs $217,700
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $58,233 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 6.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 13.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 18 of 22 categories. Baton Rouge wins 4 and Fort Wayne wins 18. 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 Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $152,500 median home), income ($50,155 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Fort Wayne, IN are about 808 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.