Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland 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
Pearland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Rent averages $612/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,622)
Homes cost $93k less ($217,700 vs $311,100)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $60,968/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%)
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $60,968 more per year on average
91% 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 (95.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Baton Rouge
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$93k less
$217,700 vs $311,100
Pearland
Median Income
$60,968
$111,123 vs $50,155/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
91% lower
95.9 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 53.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 16 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 7 and Pearland 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $311,100 median home), income ($50,155 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Pearland, TX are about 258 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.