Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 13 of 22 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500
Raleigh
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($217,700 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $361/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,371)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 52°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $28,476/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 4.5%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $28,476 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$129k less
$217,700 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Median Income
$28,476
$78,631 vs $50,155/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
52% lower
488.8 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 49.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 13 of 22 categories. Baton Rouge wins 9 and Raleigh wins 13. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $347,000 median home), income ($50,155 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Raleigh, NC are about 812 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.