Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Lawrence, KS
🏆 Baton Rouge leads 12 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Lawrence
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$59,834 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
95,103
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $30k less ($217,700 vs $247,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 38°F
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 Lawrence by $9,679/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.2%)
Lawrence, KS
Pros
55% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $9,679 more per year on average
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (461.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$30k less
$217,700 vs $247,300
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.8 on the COL index
Lawrence
Median Income
$9,679
$59,834 vs $50,155/yr
Lawrence
Violent Crime
55% lower
461.5 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Lawrence
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $247,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,038 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $59,834 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 11.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 95.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Lawrence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 39.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 10.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 95,103 |
| Median Age | 31.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 43.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Lawrence's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Baton Rouge leads 12 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 12 and Lawrence wins 11. 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 Lawrence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $247,300 median home), income ($50,155 vs $59,834), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Lawrence, KS are about 633 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.