Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Baton Rouge, LA

    Is Baton Rouge a good place to live?

    Watch Baton Rouge

    Baton Rouge ranks #12 of 18 Louisiana cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (37/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.8% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $224,500
    +3.1% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,044
    per month
    Household income
    $49,944
    median
    Unemployment
    9.1%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Baton Rouge

    The median home value in Baton Rouge is $224,500 and median rent is $1,044 a month, against a median household income of $49,944. Homes cost about 4.5× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Baton Rouge crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Louisiana the 2025 rate was 465 violent and 1,859 property crimes per 100,000 people — #7 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Baton Rouge, LA

    Baton Rouge has about 223,699 residents, 9.1% unemployment and 20% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Baton Rouge with

    Baton Rouge vs New OrleansBaton Rouge vs ShreveportBaton Rouge vs MetairieBaton Rouge vs LafayetteBaton Rouge vs Lake CharlesBaton Rouge vs KennerBaton Rouge vs Bossier CityBaton Rouge vs Monroe

    More: Where to move in Louisiana · Best counties in Louisiana

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report