Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Minneapolis 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 ✓ Safer
Population
225,500
Minneapolis
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($217,700 vs $328,700)
11% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Rent averages $257/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,267)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 22°F
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $26,177/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 5.8%)
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $26,177 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Baton Rouge
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Violent Crime
11% lower
1027.7 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$111k less
$217,700 vs $328,700
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$26,177
$76,332 vs $50,155/yr
Minneapolis
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 245⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 32.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 12 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 11 and Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $328,700 median home), income ($50,155 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,010 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.