Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 17 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500
Wichita
Kansas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
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 44°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wichita by $10,557/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.7%)
Wichita, KS
Pros
48% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Homes cost $51k less ($166,400 vs $217,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $10,557 more per year on average
Rent averages $95/mo less ($915 vs $1,010)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Wichita
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$10,557
$60,712 vs $50,155/yr
Wichita
Violent Crime
48% lower
538.6 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Wichita
Median Home Value
$51k less
$166,400 vs $217,700
Wichita
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 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 | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 110⚠ 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 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 17 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 6 and Wichita 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 Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $166,400 median home), income ($50,155 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Wichita, KS are about 614 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.