What it's like to live in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge is a large city in Louisiana with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and several well-rated hospitals. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Baton Rouge deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Several well-rated hospitals
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
How Baton Rouge compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Baton Rouge
Based on Baton Rouge's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,134
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $42,680 a year
- 53% of Baton Rouge renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$46,940
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $23,470
- Homes cost 4.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 24% below US
$1,067/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,067 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $234,700. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $234,700 · 53% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.6%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 162% above US
1009 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 5543/100k · Baton Rouge Police Department · 2023 data
Getting around▼ 19% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 42°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
12 hospitals
There are 12 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
37% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 37% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
80 public schools inside the boundary
There are 80 public schools inside the boundary and 25 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park (72 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Baton Rouge's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,067/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Baton Rouge
All Louisiana guides →Moving to Shenandoah →
8 mi away · pop. 17,998
Rent $1,201/mo · Income $107,021
Compare with Baton Rouge →Moving to Central →
10 mi away · pop. 29,783
Rent $1,309/mo · Income $89,554
Compare with Baton Rouge →Not sure Baton Rouge is the one?
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