Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Los Angeles leads 12 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500
Los Angeles
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $605k less ($217,700 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $781/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,791)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Los Angeles by $26,089/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 7.7%)
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,089 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (7.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 61°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$605k less
$217,700 vs $822,600
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 78.0°F
Los Angeles
Median Income
$26,089
$76,244 vs $50,155/yr
Los Angeles
Violent Crime
29% lower
728.5 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Los Angeles
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
7.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $76,244 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 36.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Los Angeles leads 12 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 11 and Los Angeles wins 12. 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $822,600 median home), income ($50,155 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Los Angeles, CA are about 1,609 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.