Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Little Rock 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
Little Rock
Arkansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Little Rock
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 51°F
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 Little Rock by $8,542/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.4%)
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $8,542 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Violent Crime
39% lower
1027.7 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Little Rock
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Income
$8,542
$58,697 vs $50,155/yr
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$12k less
$205,800 vs $217,700
Little Rock
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $58,697 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 248⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 50.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 52.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 202,218 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 54.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 17 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 6 and Little Rock 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 Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $205,800 median home), income ($50,155 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Little Rock, AR are about 305 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.