Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond leads 13 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500
Richmond
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($217,700 vs $308,300)
Rent averages $217/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Richmond by $9,451/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.1%)
Richmond, VA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Households earn $9,451 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Baton Rouge
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
$91k less
$217,700 vs $308,300
Richmond
Median Income
$9,451
$59,606 vs $50,155/yr
Richmond
Violent Crime
67% lower
336.9 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Richmond
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,227 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $59,606 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 13 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 10 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $308,300 median home), income ($50,155 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Richmond, VA are about 922 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.