Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 16 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500
Lincoln
Nebraska
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Lincoln by $17,691/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 3.3%)
Lincoln, NE
Pros
66% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $17,691 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.0 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$13k less
$217,700 vs $230,400
Lincoln
Median Income
$17,691
$67,846 vs $50,155/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
66% lower
347.9 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.0 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $230,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 | $998 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $67,846 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 16 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 7 and Lincoln wins 16. 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 Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $230,400 median home), income ($50,155 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Lincoln, NE are about 781 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.