Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($217,700 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $366/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 49°F
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $37,603/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 6.3%)
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $37,603 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.3%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
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 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$97k less
$217,700 vs $314,400
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Median Income
$37,603
$87,758 vs $50,155/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
64% lower
371.0 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Suffolk
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 51.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 12 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 11 and Suffolk 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $314,400 median home), income ($50,155 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Suffolk, VA are about 939 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.