Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 15 of 23 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
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Rent averages $143/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,153)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Pittsburgh
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pittsburgh by $10,032/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.7%)
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
58% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Homes cost $46k less ($171,800 vs $217,700)
Households earn $10,032 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$10,032
$60,187 vs $50,155/yr
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
58% lower
427.2 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$46k less
$171,800 vs $217,700
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 94.4 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,153 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ 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 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 15 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 8 and Pittsburgh wins 15. 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $171,800 median home), income ($50,155 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Pittsburgh, PA are about 932 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.