Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Glendale, CA
🏆 Glendale 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
Glendale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $774k less ($217,700 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $992/mo less ($1,010 vs $2,002)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $31,064/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
Glendale, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,064 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (8.1%)
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 61°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Baton Rouge
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$774k less
$217,700 vs $992,000
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 85.8°F
Glendale
Median Income
$31,064
$81,219 vs $50,155/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
72% lower
287.2 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Glendale
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
8.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Glendale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $992,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $81,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Glendale Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 194,512 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 41.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Glendale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 10 and Glendale 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $992,000 median home), income ($50,155 vs $81,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Glendale, CA are about 1,599 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.