Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Baton Rouge leads 13 of 21 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($217,700 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $302/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,312)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 32°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
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 Worcester by $12,856/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.6%)
Worcester, MA
Pros
98% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Households earn $12,856 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Baton Rouge
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$88k less
$217,700 vs $305,600
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$12,856
$63,011 vs $50,155/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
98% lower
16.5 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Worcester
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 48.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Baton Rouge leads 13 of 21 categories. Baton Rouge wins 13 and Worcester wins 8. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $305,600 median home), income ($50,155 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Worcester, MA are about 1,345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.