Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding leads 14 of 23 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 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $125k less ($217,700 vs $343,000)
Rent averages $268/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,278)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Redding
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 100°F
Cons
Median income trails Redding by $17,168/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 5.9%)
Redding, CA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Households earn $17,168 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,000
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Baton Rouge
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$125k less
$217,700 vs $343,000
Redding
Median Income
$17,168
$67,323 vs $50,155/yr
Redding
Violent Crime
37% lower
647.8 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Redding
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.6% unemployment
Redding
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $343,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,278 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $67,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 6.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 0.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Redding leads 14 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 9 and Redding wins 14. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $343,000 median home), income ($50,155 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Redding, CA are about 1,879 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.