City Profile

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Baton Rouge, the capital city of Louisiana, serves as a dynamic hub of culture, education, and politics nestled along the eastern bank of the Mississippi River. Steeped in a rich history blending French, Spanish, and Creole heritages, the city features iconic architecture such as the striking art deco State Capitol building. As the home of Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge carries a vibrant college-town energy infused with world-renowned southern hospitality, soul-stirring music, and legendary Cajun and Creole cuisine. People are drawn to the area for its robust educational opportunities, lower-than-average cost of living, and strategic position as an economic powerhouse within the Gulf South region.

About Louisiana

Louisiana, a state in the southern United States, is characterized by its unique blend of French, Spanish, African, and Creole cultures, evident in its vibrant music, cuisine, and festivals like Mardi Gras. The economy is significantly driven by the energy sector, particularly petroleum refining, oil drilling, and natural gas extraction, alongside strong manufacturing, healthcare, and agribusiness industries. Living in Louisiana generally offers a lower cost of living compared to the national average, with housing and utilities often more affordable. The climate is humid subtropical, featuring long, hot, and humid summers with frequent precipitation, and mild winters, though the state is prone to tropical storms and hurricanes. The lifestyle is often described as relaxed and welcoming, with a strong emphasis on community and outdoor activities.

221,663

Population

$61K

Avg Salary

Cost Index

58.6

Quality Score

How this 59/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 58 / 100	58.0	30%	17.4
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 91.0	55.0	25%	13.8
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $49,994 Income needed to live here: $52,000 Unemployment rate: 4.1%	47.0	20%	9.4
Growth	Population growth rate: no usable reading Job growth rate: 2.8%	76.0	15%	11.4
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 67 / 100	67.0	10%	6.7
Overall score				58.6

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 2 (reasoned) (q=60, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 11 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Baton Rouge is notably lower than the national average, making it an attractive destination for families, young professionals, and retirees alike. Housing costs, grocery prices, and utility expenses typically run below typical U.S. benchmarks, giving residents more purchasing power on modest budgets. While certain imported goods and specialized services track close to national trends, affordable housing options across diverse neighborhoods help keep overall everyday expenses manageable. Consequently, residents find that their dollar stretches further here compared to major metropolitan areas on either coast.

Average Rent

$1,350/mo

Groceries

$400/mo

Transport

$120/mo

Utilities

$180/mo

Healthcare

$230/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$45.00

Cinema ticket

$13.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$20.00

Monthly groceries

$380.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$130.00

Income

Salary Insights

Baton Rouge anchors a resilient and diversified economy driven by heavy industry, petrochemical manufacturing, higher education, medical research, and state government administration. Major employers like Louisiana State University, local healthcare networks, and numerous industrial facilities along the Mississippi River corridor provide a steady foundation of stable employment. Growth sectors in technology, digital media, and professional services have gradually expanded the local job market, while remote workers appreciate the area's low overhead and central southern location. Workforce development programs closely partner with regional colleges to continuously align training initiatives with emerging industry demands.

The average salary in Baton Rouge is $61,000 per year. You would need approximately $52,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Healthcare & Social Assistance +2.40% Government & Public Administration +0.80% Petrochemical Manufacturing & Refining +1.50% Higher Education & Research +1.20% Construction & Engineering +3.20%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

71°F

Avg Temp

☀️

92°F

Summer High

❄️

45°F

Winter Low

🌧️

45.70"

Annual Rain

💧

75.00%

Humidity

🌤️

240

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Most residents rely on personal automobiles to navigate Baton Rouge, resulting in a car-dependent lifestyle typical of many southern cities. The Capital Area Transit System (CATS) provides public bus routes across key urban corridors, though coverage is limited compared to larger metropolitan transit networks. Traffic congestion can peak during rush hours along major arteries like Interstate 10 and Interstate 12, prompting ongoing infrastructure investments. Walkability is high in specific localized pockets like downtown and near the university campus, but overall daily errands typically require driving.

27 min

Avg Commute

42.00/10

Transit Score

51.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Median home value in Baton Rouge is roughly 29% lower than the U.S. average per Census Bureau data

Cost of living indices place everyday expenses roughly 9% below the national average

Vibrant cultural and culinary ecosystem renowned for authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine

Major higher education presence anchored by Louisiana State University driving research and innovation

Abundant recreational opportunities and parks surrounding the Mississippi River corridor

Drawbacks

Poverty rates in the city limits remain higher than national benchmarks per American Community Survey data

High summer humidity and tropical weather exposure require storm preparedness

Car dependency is high with limited comprehensive public mass transit options

Localized property and violent crime rates in specific sectors require careful neighborhood selection

Traffic congestion bottlenecks along major transit arteries like I-10 during peak commuting hours

Head to Head

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Community Q&A

Questions about Baton Rouge

What people ask about living in and moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.

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