Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Baton Rouge leads 11 of 21 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
Syracuse
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
146,134
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 32°F
Households earn $6,571 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)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Syracuse
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
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($117,900 vs $217,700)
26% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $78/mo less ($932 vs $1,010)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Baton Rouge by $6,571/yr
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 128" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Income
$6,571
$50,155 vs $43,584/yr
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Violent Crime
26% lower
765.3 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$100k less
$117,900 vs $217,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 202⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Baton Rouge leads 11 of 21 categories. Baton Rouge wins 11 and Syracuse wins 10. 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 Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $117,900 median home), income ($50,155 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Syracuse, NY are about 1,199 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.