Baton Rouge, Louisiana has an overall cost of living index of 93.4, which is 6.6 points below the US average of 100 — making it more affordable than most American cities. Renters pay a median of $1,067 per month, while the typical home is valued around $234,700. Households earn a median of $49,994 per year, leaving rent at a manageable share of income for many residents. Air quality is moderate, with an average AQI of 61. Below: housing costs, local wages by occupation, neighborhoods, climate, jobs and major industries, and healthcare access — all drawn from US Census, BEA, BLS, HUD, EPA, and NOAA data.
$49,994
Median Income / yr
Census ACS
$1,067
Median Rent / mo
Census ACS
$234,700
Median Home Value
Census ACS
93.4
Cost of Living Index
Studio FMR
$1,032
HUD · FY2024
1BR Fair Market Rent
$1,064
HUD · FY2024
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,204
HUD · FY2024
3BR Fair Market Rent
$1,511
HUD · FY2024
Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile of gross rents in the metro area · HUD FY2024
Each category indexed to the US average of 100. Below 100 = cheaper than average.
Overall
93.4
Goods
94.8
Rents / Housing
81.2
Services
85.8
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro-level)
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $103,280 |
| Registered Nurse | $84,000 |
| Elementary Teacher | $58,180 |
| Electrician | $68,780 |
| Accountant | $79,420 |
| Plumber | $74,160 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $297,450 |
| Civil Engineer | $105,500 |
| Operations Manager | $131,520 |
| Market Research Analyst | $69,460 |
| Health Services Manager | $112,490 |
| Truck Driver | $59,720 |
| Physician Assistant | N/A |
| Surgeon | N/A |
| Data Scientist | N/A |
| Computer Engineer | N/A |
Source: BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
Population
222,771
Latest estimate
Median Age
31.5 yrs
Census ACS
61.0
Moderate0 = clean · 50 = moderate boundary · lower is better
Source: EPA AirNow
Total Neighborhoods
19
Tracked in our database
Avg Walk Score
N/A
0–100 scale
Avg Median Rent
$1,098
Per month
Avg Home Value
$211,871
Census ACS
| Neighborhood | Walk Score | Median Rent | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 70801 | — | $1,600 | — |
| ZIP 70802 | — | $884 | $101,300 |
| ZIP 70803 | — | — | — |
| ZIP 70805 | — | $846 | $94,000 |
| ZIP 70806 | — | $985 | $310,100 |
| ZIP 70807 | — | $853 | $111,700 |
| ZIP 70808 | — | $1,221 | $384,600 |
| ZIP 70809 | — | $1,314 | $294,200 |
| ZIP 70810 | — | $1,240 | $343,400 |
| ZIP 70811 | — | $922 | $145,600 |
Showing top 10 of 19 tracked neighborhoods.
Healthcare Score
30.8
poor
Hospitals
12
Doctors per 1,000
1.00
Insurance Coverage
89.9%
Baton Rouge has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 93.4. The US national average is 100, so Baton Rouge is 6.6 points below the national average.
The median gross rent in Baton Rouge is $1,067 per month according to US Census ACS data.
The median household income in Baton Rouge is $49,994 per year.
The median home value in Baton Rouge is $234,700 based on the latest Census ACS survey.
Baton Rouge has an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 61.0, which is rated "Moderate" by the EPA. Lower AQI values indicate cleaner air.
Tax data for Louisiana is not yet available.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
