Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
🏆 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government 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
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0
Median Household Income
$63,114 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
629,176 ✓ 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 42°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Louisville/Jefferson County metro government by $12,959/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.3%)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
31% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $12,959 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
Cons
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
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 94.0 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 87.3°F
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Income
$12,959
$63,114 vs $50,155/yr
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Violent Crime
31% lower
707.4 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Median Home Value
$13k less
$204,800 vs $217,700
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 94.0 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 | $204,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,014 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $63,114 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 90.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Jefferson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 42.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 53.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 15.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 629,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 60.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's 94.0 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 14 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 9 and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $204,800 median home), income ($50,155 vs $63,114), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY are about 619 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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