Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe 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
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($217,700 vs $317,900)
Rent averages $219/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,229)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Olathe
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $57,922/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 3.2%)
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $57,922 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $317,900
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 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$100k less
$217,700 vs $317,900
Olathe
Median Income
$57,922
$108,077 vs $50,155/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
81% lower
196.0 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $317,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,229 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 4.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Olathe leads 14 of 22 categories. Baton Rouge wins 8 and Olathe 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 Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $317,900 median home), income ($50,155 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Olathe, KS are about 620 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.