Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
High Point, NC
🏆 High Point leads 14 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
High Point
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$58,582 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,120
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 52°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails High Point by $8,427/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.2%)
High Point, NC
Pros
56% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.2%)
Households earn $8,427 more per year on average
Homes cost $21k less ($196,500 vs $217,700)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (454.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2456.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
High Point
Median Income
$8,427
$58,582 vs $50,155/yr
High Point
Violent Crime
56% lower
454.8 vs 1027.7 per 100k
High Point
Median Home Value
$21k less
$196,500 vs $217,700
High Point
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | High Point, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.7 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 | $196,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,030 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $58,582 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 117⚠ 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 ✓ Smaller | 15.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 34.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Guilford County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 48.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 1.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 114,120 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 37.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 58.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs High Point's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, High Point leads 14 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 9 and High Point wins 14. 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 High Point or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $196,500 median home), income ($50,155 vs $58,582), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and High Point, NC are about 749 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.