Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 13 of 22 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Tempe
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,005
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($217,700 vs $382,100)
Rent averages $462/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,472)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Tempe
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Tempe by $21,867/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 5.7%)
Tempe, AZ
Pros
54% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Households earn $21,867 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 61°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$164k less
$217,700 vs $382,100
Tempe
Median Income
$21,867
$72,022 vs $50,155/yr
Tempe
Violent Crime
54% lower
470.3 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Tempe
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 181,005 |
| Median Age | 31.9 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 13 of 22 categories. Baton Rouge wins 9 and Tempe 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $382,100 median home), income ($50,155 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Tempe, AZ are about 1,235 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.