Name: Baton Rouge, LA
Rating: 0.0

( 34 Ratings )

Living in Baton Rouge, LA

Ranks better than 69% of areas Follow

Population

222,191

Median Age

32.0 Years

Baton Rouge Area Facts

Baton Rouge has a Livability Score of 69_/100, which is considered good
Baton Rouge crime rates are 104% higher than the Louisiana average
Cost of living in Baton Rouge is 7% higher than the Louisiana average

What do the locals think about Baton Rouge?

55%

Family friendly

34%

Public transit is accessible

17%

Walkable to grocery stores

17%

Yards are well-kept

59%

Lots of parks

17%

Walkable to restaurants

Friendly neighbors

Safe at night

Pet friendly

Streets have sidewalks

14%

A quiet area

45%

Sense of community

Based on 29 votes from AreaVibes users. Take the poll

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Baton Rouge Reviews

Write a review about Baton Rouge Tell people what you like or don't like about Baton Rouge…

Trashy, crime ridden, falling apart 1 rating By Anonymous ( Apr 14, 2023) If you are considering a move to BR, please do your research first. My husband and I have been living here most of our lives and are looking for a way out. I know life is what you make of it, but it's getting rough. We have tried so hard to make this work and stay happy. Our smal ...Read More l business is rooted here and tough to pull up. There used to be a lot more pros to living here, but the cons are stacking up a lot quicker than we'd like.

Pros:
There are some pretty places you can drive to for a hike out in nature. BREC is awesome, and they have parks all over town. The trail system is not extensive, but for what we do have, I'm grateful. Tunica Hills has beautiful waterfalls and trails, and it's a short drive to St. Francisville. Tickfaw State Park, which is only 30 minutes away, holds many fond memories for me.

The libraries are awesome. Especially the main library on Goodwood.

People are mostly kind in person.

There are neighborhoods in the city with sidewalks for a stroll that are quiet when there aren't dogs barking or children screaming. The crime has decreased a good bit in some of these areas where cops are paid extra and hired to patrol.

The food is good if you don't mind eating mostly unhealthy food. Quality cajun and southern foods are not hard to find. There are some excellent sushi places, and the Tex-Mex is decent.

Homes are cheap compared to other cities of similar size. You get a lot more for your money here than you would in another state.

People have a way of helping each other out after a storm. This is one of the only times I feel a sense of community here.

Cons:
The roads are crumbling and are mainly patched together with low-quality concrete (even the interstate is patched and not repaved). Potholes may get filled in, though, haphazardly with a blacktop patch that quickly settles and the pothole comes back. The road striping is nonexistent in some places, making it very dangerous to drive at night or in the rain. Even if you report these issues to the appropriate parties, nothing gets taken care of. The traffic is horrendous for a city this size, and the planning (or lack thereof) in place seems disastrous for our residents. Widening the interstate instead of building a new bridge is just another bandaid. Many of which have failed to reduce our traffic. Everyone is so aggressive in their driving that you fear for your life every time you get out on the road. Hardly anyone uses their signals; tailgating is inevitable; be prepared to be cut off; most people are on their phones; people speed aggressively; though on occasion, there is someone going well below the posted limit. There has recently been violence and shootings because of road rage. We've almost been hit head-on multiple times by vehicles swerving into our lane. Watch out for aggressive semis on the interstate! We were hit by one. Public transportation is a joke, and I feel sorry for the people who have to rely on the bus system to get around.

There is litter everywhere! People throw trash out of their vehicles constantly. The trucks that pick up our garbage litter the highways with their exposed loads. Single-use plastic is a big concern here, as is styrofoam. A group of volunteers recently took it upon themselves to pick up trash because our administration will not take care of it. If you are eco-conscious, it will drive you nuts.

Flooding has become a major concern, and the administration is dragging its feet to do anything about it. There's always some study being performed or some strategy being considered instead of tackling the real problem. Since the flood in 2016, very little has been done to mitigate this issue. Homes that have never flooded before continue to flood. Some homes in our neighborhood flooded in 2021 that had never received water before. Even though we are in a non-flood zone, we continue to get flood insurance every year due to the uncertainty. Weather anxiety is a constant threat, especially during hurricane season. I can only imagine how the people who have been repeatedly flooded feel about impending rain during a storm.

The crime has become an increasing issue due to the lack of enforcement, police, and funding. There is a shooting everyday, homes and cars are broken into constantly, catalytic converters are stolen in broad daylight in parking lots, groups get together and do donuts in major intersections and drag race down straightaways, it is not safe at night, people are going missing downtown, and overdoses are becoming increasingly common. The homeless population continues to rise with no real plan in place for the less fortunate. There is a serious addiction epidemic here, and people need help that isn't available to them.

The chemical companies continue polluting our air and water while receiving tax breaks for corporations. This is cancer alley. Our air quality is poor. Our water supply is running out because the plants use our clean drinking water to clean and operate parts of their processing plants, and switching to desalination systems would cost them $$$.

The politicians are corrupt. The level of corruption is deeper here than in most other cities (and states) I've researched. Explaining this would take a whole page to scratch the surface of what's going on here. It's very RED here, even though some parts "seem" blue. There is nothing progressive about this place.

There is not much to do here if you don't fit in. If you don't like football (especially LSU), you are seen as the enemy. If you do not drink, there is no nightlife. Our friends here are nonexistent. They all moved away. Finding like-minded people is difficult if you have differing views. Racism from all angles is a real problem here. A lot of people are lazy and do not want to work.

The lack of vegan, vegetarian, and whole food restaurants is depressing. We had to change our diet due to medical concerns, and the food offered here is rarely healthy. We cook almost all of our meals at home due to the lack of healthy options. Lots of fried, over-salted, rich, buttery food is in abundance. It seems every store I visit is in shambles, including Target, Walmart, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and the department stores in the mall. There is an increasing lack of unique shops. Almost everything is a chain.

I cannot speak to healthcare in other states, though our experiences with the hospitals and doctors here are becoming increasingly unacceptable. The last 2 times we had to go to the emergency room, we were there for over 4 hours each time. My husband was misdiagnosed on one visit when he had food poisoning. The second visit to a different hospital was a little better, but it takes forever. We are constantly looking for new doctors because we are unhappy with our experiences. My last visit to an ENT was horrible. I ended up getting very sick when antibiotics were prescribed unnecessarily. This was my fifth unacceptable ENT experience. This has been the pattern with other doctors as well.

There are two seasons here. Long summers and short winters. Spring and fall are basically nonexistent. If you can't stand heat, this is not the place for you. Our summers can be brutal. High humidity mixed with high temperatures makes for a sticky, sweaty mess. Extreme weather events are becoming the new norm. Hurricanes are always a threat during hurricane season, which is June–November. If it snows during the winter, which is a very rare occurrence, do not get on the road. No one knows how to drive in these conditions, and there will be wrecks galore. Due to the frequent, undesired weather and the poorly maintained grid, homes lose power constantly. In certain areas, a whole-home generator is a must. There is only one electric company. You have no choices.

We do not have children, but from what I've heard and experienced in my youth, the public school system is not somewhere you want to enroll your child.

All in all, we have enjoyed our lives here up until now and still do some days. I think it is time for a change, but that is not in the cards for us right now. We will continue to work on ourselves to better enjoy our lives around us and be the change we want to see in our community. I hope that anyone considering moving here does their research and weighs the pros and cons before making a decision. It can be a great place to live if you like the culture here enough to overlook the downfalls of this city and state. Read Less

The Heart of South Louisiana is Baton Rouge, LA 3 rating By Anonymous ( Jan 13, 2015) Being born in Baton Rouge gave me a whole new perspective on life. I lived in a tiny subdivision as a kid called Woodmoss Drive and made many fond memories there. The best part about Baton Rouge is that it lacks the grit and grime of New Orleans while maintaining it's creole char ...Read More m. The best part about Baton Rouge is that it is a great place to raise a family and is relatively quite. Baton Rouge is also very affordable even though property values have gone up a bit as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

Plenty of Gambling in the Area

I fondly remember being dropped off at plenty of casino arcades while my parents and grandparents went off to gamble. We would usually meet up at some point to chow down on plenty of crab legs or other scrumptious offerings at the casino buffet until the adults decided to hit the casino floor.

The Belle of Baton Rouge is a casino on a riverboat which is docked in the Mississippi River. The casino owns a hotel, buffet, and oyster bar which are located in separate buildings on the mainland. This is also the site of a major fireworks display which happens every 4th of July.

Delicious Food Everywhere

The best part about making the decision to live in Baton Rouge LA is that you will be surrounded by delicious Louisiana food. My favorite Louisiana dishes are Boudin (rice, bell pepper, and meat ground into a sausage), Jambalaya (rice and sausage dish), Gumbo (soup with rice and seafood), and Crawfish Etouffee (Crawfish and rice dish).

Ralph and Kacoo's at 6110 Bluebonnet Blvd is the best place to get anything that has been fried. In my opinion, they've got the best gumbo and fried catfish around. Read Less

Baton Rouge Culture 5 rating By Avril411 ( Apr 11, 2014) I honestly love Baton Rouge. It has a rich French culture, great food, and moving here was a breeze. I hired All My Sons Moving & Storage of Baton Rouge, and got my hair done while they set up my house. The only thing I didn't like when I got here was the traffic but at least I ...Read More didn't waste too much gas because my had just me and my dog. If you need to move in or out of Baton Rouge and aren't sure what stuff you need to live in here just check out this great resource at http://www.allmysons.com/ams_packingguide.aspx#movetype. Read Less

Baton Rouge - Home of Tigerland 3 rating By Anonymous ( Dec 19, 2011) I lived in Baton Rouge, LA most of my life. There wasn't much to do there when I was growing up, but the city has built up since then. The Mall of Louisiana offers two floors of shops for anyone who enjoys shopping. The mall includes stores such as JcPenny, Dillards, and Sears. T ...Read More here are also a few specialty shops and stores that sell Saint's and LSU Gear. Less than a mile from the mall are the shops at Perkins Rowe. There are many different clothing stores, a movie theater, and restaurants located in this shopping center.

During the summer, Blue Bayou/Dixie Landing is a great place to take the children. They expanded the park to include rides such as roller coasters along with a huge water slide. The amusement park is not far from Louisiana State University. This is the home of the LSU Tigers. Besides catching a football game, there are also beautiful parks and lakes to enjoy. The University also has several plays and programs open to the public at various times throughout the year.

I moved from Baton Rouge a couple of years ago to a larger state. I still visit on the holidays because my family is still there. It seems like every time I go back, there is something new being built. The one area that I feel the city could improve is the nightlife. The downtown area has one street with a few clubs. There is not much variety for young adults that are looking to have a good time. The best thing about the city is the food. There is no shortage of restaurants in the city. If you enjoy spicy food, there are plenty of options here. Read Less

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Baton Rouge Culture 5 rating By Avril411 ( Apr 11, 2014) I honestly love Baton Rouge. It has a rich French culture, great food, and moving here was a breeze. I hired All My Sons Moving & Storage of Baton Rouge, and got my hair done while they set up my house. The only thing I didn't like when I got here was the traffic but at least I ...Read More didn't waste too much gas because my had just me and my dog. If you need to move in or out of Baton Rouge and aren't sure what stuff you need to live in here just check out this great resource at http://www.allmysons.com/ams_packingguide.aspx#movetype. Read Less

Baton Rouge - Home of Tigerland 3 rating By Anonymous ( Dec 19, 2011) I lived in Baton Rouge, LA most of my life. There wasn't much to do there when I was growing up, but the city has built up since then. The Mall of Louisiana offers two floors of shops for anyone who enjoys shopping. The mall includes stores such as JcPenny, Dillards, and Sears. T ...Read More here are also a few specialty shops and stores that sell Saint's and LSU Gear. Less than a mile from the mall are the shops at Perkins Rowe. There are many different clothing stores, a movie theater, and restaurants located in this shopping center.

During the summer, Blue Bayou/Dixie Landing is a great place to take the children. They expanded the park to include rides such as roller coasters along with a huge water slide. The amusement park is not far from Louisiana State University. This is the home of the LSU Tigers. Besides catching a football game, there are also beautiful parks and lakes to enjoy. The University also has several plays and programs open to the public at various times throughout the year.

I moved from Baton Rouge a couple of years ago to a larger state. I still visit on the holidays because my family is still there. It seems like every time I go back, there is something new being built. The one area that I feel the city could improve is the nightlife. The downtown area has one street with a few clubs. There is not much variety for young adults that are looking to have a good time. The best thing about the city is the food. There is no shortage of restaurants in the city. If you enjoy spicy food, there are plenty of options here. Read Less

Experience the Cajun Lifestyle in Baton Rouge, LA 4.5 rating By Anonymous ( May 03, 2010) I am lucky enough to live within easy driving distance of Baton Rouge, and I take every chance I get to go explore this wonderful city. Baton Rouge is a great destination for weekend getaways, and has something to offer everyone. The lively culture combines with the outstanding f ...Read More ood to create an exciting and entertaining atmosphere. There are also many attractions to see and various great restaurants to sample in Baton Rouge.

Though traffic in Baton Rouge can be heavy (especially during rush hour) and crime is rather high, Baton Rouge has many positive aspects. There are several cozy bed and breakfasts that give visitors a charming place to stay, and the unique stores located all around the city provide great shopping. Since this city is the home of LSU, the bar scene and nightlife is always bustling at night.

Baton Rouge is known as Bayou Country, so swamp tours are very popular here. However, there are many things to keep visitors occupied, such as theme parks, casinos and wineries. A favorite attraction of mine is the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. Clearly, in this city where urban lifestyle meets country traditions, you will never be bored! Read Less

Compare Baton Rouge, LA Livability

Baton Rouge, LA

Garth Brooks hailed Baton Rouge in his hit country song that asked the operator to put him on through to his girl who lived in this hip Louisiana city. Long before the country superstar's song though people knew about Baton Rouge due to the city's might LSU Tigers football team. Each fall, the boys from Death Valley are one of the top contenders to win the college football national championship. A Saturday night under the lights at Death Valley is a special experience that is amazing for the home team and terrifying for the visitors.

Baton Rouge is home to over 220,000 people. The city's name literally translates to red stick in the French language. The city also surprisingly hosted a battle in the American Revolutionary War making it the only city outside of the original 13 colonies to do so. Today, home prices in Baton Rouge are affordable and there are a lot of classic Victorian homes on the market for purchase or rent.

Traffic is a non-issue for those who live in Baton Rouge. The Capital Area Transit System does offer a public transit alternative for those who do not have the means to get around by private conveyance or those who simply prefer to leave their car in the garage to let somebody else do the work. Bikes are also gaining in popularity as more and more college students set out on two wheels to explore all that the city has to offer.

Baton Rouge is home to the city's State Capitol where visitors and locals can hop on a tour to learn about the state government's role in the lives of the people. It is also fascinating to take a tour of the Old Capitol Building to compare the two side-by-side. The USS Kidd's Veterans Museum lets you go out on a de-commissioned naval vessel that know showcases a large number of marine historic items. BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo is a hit with young children thanks to the tiger exhibit.

Baton Rouge has a number of private schools and charter schools that are popular choices for parents who are looking to get their children ready for the demands of college. Turner Industries and the university are a couple of the area's largest employers. Zee Gardens, Zion Heights, and Village St. George are a few of the areas that homebuyers typically check out when they are looking to set down roots in the area.

Baton Rouge is a cool and eclectic college town that is brimming with excitement. The people who call it home know what southern hospitality is, and they are excited to welcome you and your family to the area.