Baton Rouge, LA, known as 'The Red Stick,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in southeastern Louisiana, Baton Rouge is a large city that serves as the state capital and a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like New Orleans and Lafayette enhance its status as a central point in the region. Baton Rouge's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Baton Rouge is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Louisiana State Capitol, the historic Old State Capitol, and the scenic LSU Rural Life Museum. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center to the bustling Mall of Louisiana, known for its shopping and dining. Baton Rouge's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Cajun cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Baton Rouge Blues Festival and the Bayou Country Superfest highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Baton Rouge's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Louisiana State University contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Baton Rouge is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Shaw Center for the Arts and the Baton Rouge Gallery are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Baton Rouge provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Baton Rouge’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the LSU Tigers (NCAA) and the Baton Rouge Rougarou (Baseball), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Baton Rouge include healthcare, education, and petrochemicals, with significant employers such as Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and ExxonMobil driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and the Capital Area Transit System (CATS), making commuting convenient and accessible.
Commute
High commute scores indicates that public transit should be easily accessible in this area and the average commute time to work is less than average.
Cost Of Living
The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.
Housing
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.
Crime
This area is reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people and could signify that it is a dangerous place to live. Crime rates include both violent and property crimes.
Employment
A low score in the employment category could indicate that this area struggles with high unemployment rates and low household income and income per capita levels.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana is a large city with a population of 229,041 residents. Individuals of White (38%) and Black or African American (53%) backgrounds make up a significant portion of the population of the city. The median age of all Baton Rouge residents is 32, which is well below the national average. This is a good indication that this city could be ideal for a younger demographic. Baton Rouge is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 39% married, this city falls well below the national average. If you prefer shorter commutes, living in Baton Rouge will be a delight. With an average one-way commute time of just 21 minutes, traveling to and from work is notably more convenient than the national average, which stands at 26 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Baton Rouge could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Louisiana if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. The best areas in Baton Rouge and in surrounding cities are easier to find when you are able to make informed decisions. Using data from amenities, crime, cost of living, education, housing, you will see a detailed breakdown of the most important information as well as comparisons to the Louisiana and national averages.
Using data and statistics Baton Rouge has received a livability score of 69 out of 100. This score is ranked in the 72nd percentile when compared to all other cities. There are nine total categories that create the livability score. Baton Rouge ranks well for cost of living (A-) and housing (A) The bad news for Baton Rouge, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (D), crime (F) and employment (D-).
For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Baton Rouge apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Baton Rouge is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Baton Rouge come in at $326,755, which is 21.9% higher than the Louisiana average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Baton Rouge, the home price to income ratio is 4.9, which is 22.5% higher than the Louisiana average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Baton Rouge | Louisiana | National |
| Average one way commute | 21min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 79.1% | 82.6% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.0% | 9.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 2.0% | 1.3% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 3.4% | 1.8% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 3.7% | 2.6% | 4.6% |
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