Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Baton Rouge, LA.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Baton Rouge, LA?
Baton Rouge, LA has a MapsToIt housing cost index of 76 (among the more affordable large markets in this catalog; 100 = U.S. avg). Median home value is about $224,500 and median rent about $1,044, against national ACS medians of $303,400 and $1,348. Median household income is roughly $49,944. Typical commute is 23 minutes; summer highs average 92°F. Violent-offense rates run about 936.3 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 76U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $224,500U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,044U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $49,944U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.2%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 23 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 936.3per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 92°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Baton Rouge compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 220,907City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $49,944Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year36% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 76ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year24% below U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $224,500City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year26% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,044City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year23% below U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.2%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 23 min8% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 3913% below catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 936.3per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)67% above catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 5290.3per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)76% above catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 92°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals5.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 43°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals8.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 61.9 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals86% above catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 251As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals6% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Baton Rouge declined 3.7% from 229,374 in 2010 to 220,907 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Baton Rouge, LA expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Baton Rouge's housing cost index is 76 versus 100 nationally — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($224,500 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,044 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 76 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $224,500 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,044 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Baton Rouge, LA?
Typical ownership costs center near $224,500, while median gross rent is about $1,044 a month. Against a median household income of $49,944, rent alone is roughly 25% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $224,500
- Median rent $1,044/month
- Median household income $49,944
What is the job market like in Baton Rouge, LA?
County unemployment recently ran 4.2% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Baton Rouge is about $49,944 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.2% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $49,944
How long is the typical commute in Baton Rouge, LA?
Average one-way commute time is about 23 minutes, with Walk Score near 39/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 23 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 39/100
Is Baton Rouge, LA safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 936.3 per 100k and property about 5290.3 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 936.3 per 100k
- Property 5290.3 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Baton Rouge, LA?
Normals show summer highs near 92°F, winter lows near 43°F, about 61.9 inches of rain, and roughly 251 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 92°F
- Winter low 43°F
- 61.9 in rain · 251 sunny days
Baton Rouge (pop. 220,907) sits in Louisiana. Median household income is roughly $49,944, while the ACS housing-cost index sits near 76 — among the more affordable large markets in this catalog on housing costs (100 ≈ U.S. average). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $224,500 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Baton Rouge is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Baton Rouge with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Gulf moisture, festival culture, and floodplain risk are everyday considerations. With about 61.9 inches of rain a year, wet-season drainage and mold checks are worth asking about. Plan on roughly 23 minutes each way for a typical commute; Walk Score is about 39. Unemployment recently ran near 4.2%, broadly in line with many large U.S. counties. FBI CIUS Table 8 violent-offense rates run comparatively high (~936.3 per 100k), so block-by-block due diligence is especially important.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Baton Rouge city, 1600000US2205000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · East Baton Rouge Parish, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00013970 BATON ROUGE RYAN AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19