Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 17 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500
Tampa
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($217,700 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $412/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,422)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tampa by $16,647/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.2%)
Tampa, FL
Pros
57% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Households earn $16,647 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 61°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$116k less
$217,700 vs $333,200
Tampa
Median Income
$16,647
$66,802 vs $50,155/yr
Tampa
Violent Crime
57% lower
444.6 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Tampa
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 49.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 17 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 6 and Tampa wins 17. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $333,200 median home), income ($50,155 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Tampa, FL are about 549 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.