Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Rochester leads 12 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Rochester
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 33°F
Households earn $5,999 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
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
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $106k less ($111,400 vs $217,700)
43% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Baton Rouge by $5,999/yr
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 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Income
$5,999
$50,155 vs $44,156/yr
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Violent Crime
43% lower
582.3 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$106k less
$111,400 vs $217,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 8.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 210,992 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 11 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $111,400 median home), income ($50,155 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Rochester, NY are about 1,151 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.