Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit 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
Lee's Summit
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$103,447 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $74k less ($217,700 vs $291,400)
Rent averages $285/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,295)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lee's Summit
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $53,292/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 3.8%)
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Households earn $53,292 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$74k less
$217,700 vs $291,400
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$53,292
$103,447 vs $50,155/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
85% lower
149.4 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $291,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,295 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 14 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 9 and Lee's Summit 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 Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $291,400 median home), income ($50,155 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Lee's Summit, MO are about 614 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.