Best Life Index › States › Louisiana › Cities › Baton Rouge

Louisiana city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Baton Rouge?

What it costs to live in Baton Rouge, and how it compares with other Louisiana cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

40

22nd best value in Louisiana

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Louisiana cities.

Overall livability

61

11th overall in Louisiana

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Baton Rouge is home to about 225,539 people. A typical home runs $191,100 and a household earns around $46,300, a price-to-income ratio of 4.1. Among Louisiana's largest cities, it ranks 22nd for value and 11th overall.

Baton Rouge at a glance

Median home price

$191,100

26th in LA of 32

Median rent

$937/mo

Median household income

$46,300

Home price to income

4.1x

Unemployment

9.4%

28th in LA of 32

School rating

3/10

14th in LA of 32

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in LA of 32

Walk score

27/100

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‹ See all top Louisiana cities ranked  ยท  Louisiana state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Louisiana only. Updated 2026.