Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 New Orleans leads 14 of 22 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
225,500
New Orleans
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1
Median Household Income
$51,116 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
29% less violent crime than New Orleans
Homes cost $64k less ($217,700 vs $281,500)
Rent averages $152/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,162)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
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
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Violent Crime
29% lower
1027.7 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$64k less
$217,700 vs $281,500
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.8 on the COL index
New Orleans
Median Income
$961
$51,116 vs $50,155/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 91.1 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $281,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $51,116 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 88.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 60.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 49.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 14 of 22 categories. Baton Rouge wins 8 and New Orleans 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 New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $281,500 median home), income ($50,155 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and New Orleans, LA are about 76 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.