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Living in
Baker.
About
Life in Baker
Baker is a community of 12,322 people in Louisiana. The median household income is $54,750, and median home values are around $157,900. The unemployment rate is 4.2%.
Baker at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
29.8%
Foreign-Born
0.9%
Broadband Internet
92.5%
of households
Population Growth
-2.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics0.9% foreign-born, most often from Jamaica
Who lives in Baker: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Baker, the largest foreign-born group is from Jamaica (33.6%), and 0.2% of residents speak Tagalog/Filipino at home.
Under 18
26.3%
of residents
65 and Older
11.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.2%
of households
Married Couples
30.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.82
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Living
Rent, home values, and income in Baker
In Baker, home values are 27% below the LA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$703
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
69.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
14.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $182,604 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for LA
Unemployment in Baker
Unemployment in East Baton Rouge Parish, which includes Baker, is close to the LA average.
Unemployment rate
Baker: East Baton Rouge Parish rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
East Baton Rouge Parish (county-wide) · Annual averages
Baker is about 3% of East Baton Rouge Parish’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Baker Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24.3 min avg
How Baker residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Baker, most residents drive alone to work (84%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR)
Regional airport · few flights421k passengers boarded in 2025
- 68 mi
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Medium hub6.2M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 21% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Baker runs 21% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
397.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,118.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Baker Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
East Baton Rouge County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In East Baton Rouge Parish, which includes Baker, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Hail | $1.9M |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.5M |
| 2023 | 42 | Excessive Heat | $190,000 |
| 2022 | 13 | Flash Flood | $345,000 |
| 2021 | 13 | Flash Flood | $250.3M |
| 2020 | 9 | Hail | $10.2M |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $945,000 |
| 2018 | 13 | Flash Flood | $120,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
East Baton Rouge Parish, county-wide
Baker is about 3% of East Baton Rouge Parish’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality51 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in East Baton Rouge Parish, which includes Baker, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
51
Good Days
181
per year
Moderate Days
183
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
East Baton Rouge Parish, county-wide
Baker is about 3% of East Baton Rouge Parish’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate92°F summers, 43°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Baker has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and mild winters (avg low 43°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
79°/58°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/73°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
65.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
96
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
18
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
105
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 42°F | 6.36" |
| Feb | 67°F | 45°F | 4.42" |
| Mar | 73°F | 51°F | 4.46" |
| Apr | 79°F | 57°F | 5.08" |
| May | 86°F | 65°F | 5.23" |
| Jun | 91°F | 72°F | 6.45" |
| Jul | 92°F | 74°F | 5.09" |
| Aug | 92°F | 73°F | 6.37" |
| Sep | 89°F | 69°F | 4.42" |
| Oct | 81°F | 58°F | 4.84" |
| Nov | 71°F | 48°F | 3.90" |
| Dec | 64°F | 43°F | 5.32" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Baker
Uninsured
8.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Baker's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Lane Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.7 mi away · Zachary
The General
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.2 mi away · Baton Rouge
Seaside Health System
Psychiatric · 9.3 mi away · Baton Rouge
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Baker
Baker's student/teacher ratio is 16.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 20.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Baker (within 15 miles)
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
11.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 30,594 students · in-state tuition $12,551 · 71% graduate · median earnings $64,338 (10 yrs after entry)
Southern University and A & M College
4.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 5,519 students · in-state tuition $9,958 · 36% graduate · median earnings $47,186 (10 yrs after entry)
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University
12.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 821 students · in-state tuition $16,553 · 47% graduate · median earnings $63,092 (10 yrs after entry)
Southern University Law Center
4.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 607 students · median earnings $47,186 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Natchez National Historical Park, 68 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Baker
Baker has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Natchez National Historical Park (68 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Natchez National Historical Park
National Historical Park
68 mi awayNew Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
National Historical Park
78 mi awayJean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
National Historical Park and Preserve
81 mi awayPublic Libraries in Baker
Baker Branch
3501 Groom Road, Baker
Cities Near Baker
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Baker?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Baker FAQ
Is Baker, Louisiana safe?⌄
Baker's violent crime rate was 398 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1118 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Baker, Louisiana?⌄
East Baton Rouge Parish, which includes Baker, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
How is the commute in Baker, Louisiana?⌄
The average commute in Baker is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from