Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie 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 ✓ Larger
Metairie
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $72k less ($217,700 vs $289,800)
Rent averages $110/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,120)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Metairie by $21,915/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 4.3%)
Metairie, LA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Households earn $21,915 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$72k less
$217,700 vs $289,800
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.8 on the COL index
Metairie
Median Income
$21,915
$72,070 vs $50,155/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
62% lower
390.1 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 91.1 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $289,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,120 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $72,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 140,046 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 7 and Metairie 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 Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $289,800 median home), income ($50,155 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Metairie, LA are about 65 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.