Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 17 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Lafayette
Louisiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
4% less violent crime than Lafayette
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Homes cost $17k less ($217,700 vs $234,900)
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 Lafayette by $8,695/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.1%)
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Households earn $8,695 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Baton Rouge
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Violent Crime
4% lower
1027.7 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$17k less
$217,700 vs $234,900
Lafayette
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$8,695
$58,850 vs $50,155/yr
Lafayette
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $234,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,022 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $58,850 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 251⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 64.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 17 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 6 and Lafayette wins 17. 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 Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $234,900 median home), income ($50,155 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Lafayette, LA are about 56 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.