Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler leads 14 of 23 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
Tyler
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$63,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Rent averages $103/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,113)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 Tyler by $12,901/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.3%)
Tyler, TX
Pros
62% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $12,901 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Income
$12,901
$63,056 vs $50,155/yr
Tyler
Violent Crime
62% lower
391.2 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Tyler
Median Home Value
$13k less
$205,200 vs $217,700
Tyler
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,113 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $63,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 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 | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 57.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 47.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 14 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 9 and Tyler wins 14. 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $205,200 median home), income ($50,155 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Tyler, TX are about 278 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.