Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
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
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Rent averages $240/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,250)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 42°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Philadelphia by $7,382/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
12% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Households earn $7,382 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Baton Rouge
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Income
$7,382
$57,537 vs $50,155/yr
Philadelphia
Violent Crime
12% lower
908.7 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $57,537 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 230⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 239⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 50.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Baton Rouge wins 11 and Philadelphia wins 11. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $215,500 median home), income ($50,155 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Philadelphia, PA are about 1,116 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.