City profile · Louisiana · Census ACS 2023

Baton Rouge, LA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Baton Rouge - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

223,699
Residents
$49,944
Median income
$224,500
Median home
$1,204
Median rent (state)

Baton Rouge - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Baton Rouge places in the 19th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

19th
percentile, household income
49th
percentile, home value
36th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Baton Rouge, LA

Baton Rouge is a mid-sized U.S. city in Louisiana, home to 223,699 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $49,944 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 18.6%. Baton Rouge's housing stock carries a median value of $224,500, and the median resident age is 31.8 years. Educational attainment runs 35.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 55.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1,375 residential building permits were authorized in Baton Rouge (Building Boom), up 288% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Louisiana run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Louisiana scores 88.2 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,204 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Louisiana run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 19.6 minutes, with 75.0% driving alone and 7.1% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 98.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

223,699 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Louisiana

Median Household Income

$49,944 /yr

Poverty 18.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Louisiana average

How does Baton Rouge compare to other US cities?

Here's how Baton Rouge stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 19% higher than other cities
Home value 49% pricier than other cities
Median rent 36% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Baton Rouge against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Louisiana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Louisiana-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Baton Rouge's strongest outlier among Louisiana cities

Among the 477 Louisiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Baton Rouge ranks #38 - the 92nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Baton Rouge only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#218 of 426
49th percentile in Louisiana
Median Gross Rent
#75 of 477
73rd percentile in Louisiana
Median Home Value
#79 of 419
81st percentile in Louisiana
Poverty Rate
#189 of 475
60th percentile in Louisiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#38 of 477
92nd percentile in Louisiana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Louisiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

19thIncome percentile

19th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Baton Rouge's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$224,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 51% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Baton Rouge $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Baton Rouge, LA Baton Rouge, LA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Baton Rouge, LA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Baton Rouge, LA median $49,944/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Baton Rouge, LA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Baton Rouge, LA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 35.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 18.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
223,699
Median Income
$49,944
Median Home Value
$224,500
Median Age
31.8
Poverty Rate
18.6%
Labor force participation
55.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
35.8%

Schools

Total Schools
101
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
220,000 residents222,000 residents224,000 residents226,000 residents228,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 226,065 residents 222,795 residents ▼ -1.4%
Baton Rouge's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
1,375
housing units authorized
Single-Family
844
detached homes
Multifamily
531
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 354
2020 306
2021 266
2022 249
2023 231
2024 1,375

Permit volume increased 288% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
19.6 minutes
Drive Alone
75.0%
Carpool
11.0%
Public Transit
1.5%
Walk
3.8%
Work from Home
7.1%
Other
1.6%

Based on 99,431 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Louisiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$40
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Louisiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Louisiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Baton Rouge sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,204/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Louisiana

Shreveport
183,483 people
Metairie
138,995 people
Lafayette
121,537 people
Lake Charles
81,679 people
New Orleans
376,035 people
Kenner
65,113 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Baton Rouge's 223,699 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hialeah, FL
221,901 people
San Bernardino, CA
221,774 people
Tacoma, WA
220,482 people
Port St. Lucie, FL
220,453 people
Spring Valley, NV
219,913 people
Richmond, VA
227,595 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Baton Rouge's $49,944 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Gowanda, NY
$49,946 median income
Merrill, WI
$49,947 median income
Galatia, IL
$49,938 median income
Spencerville, OH
$49,938 median income
Yoakum, TX
$49,950 median income
Clanton, AL
$49,952 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Baton Rouge, LA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Baton Rouge, LA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 36.2% 51.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.5% White 36.2% Black or African American 51.0% Asian 3.6% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.9% Two or more races 5.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Baton Rouge compares to nearby Louisiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Baton Rouge (this city) 223,699 $49,944
Shreveport 183,483 $48,465
Metairie 138,995 $73,256
Lafayette 121,537 $61,454
Census ACS 5-year FIPS LA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Baton Rouge, LA?

What is the population of Baton Rouge, LA? +

Baton Rouge, LA counts 223,699 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Baton Rouge, LA? +

The median household income in Baton Rouge is $49,944 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Baton Rouge? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Baton Rouge; the closest available measure is the Louisiana state average, a cost of living index of 88.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Louisiana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Baton Rouge, LA? +

Baton Rouge's median home value sits at $224,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.