Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Modesto 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 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
218,308
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($217,700 vs $381,800)
Rent averages $487/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,497)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Modesto
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Modesto by $23,220/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 7.8%)
Modesto, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,220 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (7.8%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$164k less
$217,700 vs $381,800
Modesto
Median Income
$23,220
$73,375 vs $50,155/yr
Modesto
Violent Crime
36% lower
655.7 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Modesto
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
7.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Modesto
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 6.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Modesto leads 12 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 11 and Modesto 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $381,800 median home), income ($50,155 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Modesto, CA are about 1,773 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.