Living in Baton Rouge, LA
Mid-size city in Louisiana
Baton Rouge is a mid-size city in Louisiana, home to about 224,000 people, with 501,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is Baton Rouge a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $237k and rents for $1,510 a month
- Low taxes: about $1,029 state income tax per resident, 0.6% property tax
- Strong healthcare: 2 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Easy flying: MSY is 60 mi away
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
- Smaller job market: about 501,000 people live within 31 mi
- Higher crime: violent crime is 2.5× the US rate (FBI 2019)
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Baton Rouge ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Baton Rouge: common questions
What is the cost of living in Baton Rouge?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $237k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,510 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 91, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Baton Rouge?
Louisiana collects about $1,029 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.6% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Baton Rouge safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (2.5× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge has mild winters: winter days average around 63°F and summer days around 90°F.
Does Baton Rouge get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes: 18 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.34 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Baton Rouge?
The nearest major airport is MSY, about 60 mi away.
How Baton Rouge scores
Each bar compares Baton Rouge with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Baton Rouge right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.