Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch 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
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $420k less ($217,700 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1343/mo less ($1,010 vs $2,353)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $98,072/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 3.4%)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $98,072 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Baton Rouge
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$420k less
$217,700 vs $637,400
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 87.3°F
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$98,072
$148,227 vs $50,155/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
87% lower
138.1 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 13 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 10 and Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $637,400 median home), income ($50,155 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 1,002 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.