Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno 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
Reno
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $244k less ($217,700 vs $462,100)
Rent averages $350/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,360)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 46°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Reno by $22,918/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 5.0%)
Reno, NV
Pros
48% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Households earn $22,918 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Baton Rouge
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
$244k less
$217,700 vs $462,100
Reno
Median Income
$22,918
$73,073 vs $50,155/yr
Reno
Violent Crime
48% lower
529.6 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Reno
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $73,073 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 45.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 14 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 9 and Reno 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $462,100 median home), income ($50,155 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Reno, NV are about 1,734 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.