Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 12 of 23 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($217,700 vs $391,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 41°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Rent averages $79/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,089)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Provo
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 Provo by $7,788/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.4%)
Provo, UT
Pros
80% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $7,788 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$174k less
$217,700 vs $391,500
Provo
Median Income
$7,788
$57,943 vs $50,155/yr
Provo
Violent Crime
80% lower
206.6 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Provo
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.6% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,089 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $57,943 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 31.9 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 12 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 11 and Provo wins 12. 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $391,500 median home), income ($50,155 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Provo, UT are about 1,335 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.