
Unsure about the place to maneuver between New Orleans and Baton Rouge?
On this fast comparability, we’ll discover key points like price of dwelling, job alternatives, and high quality of life that can assist you determine about these two cities. Let’s get began!
Value of Dwelling
You’ll need to dig deeper down into your pockets to satisfy your wants when dwelling in New Orleans than in Baton Rouge. The typical month-to-month bills for a single individual with out lease are $1,188 in New Orleans and $1,091.5 in Baton Rouge.
The distinction in price of dwelling turns into much more vital when housing is included. The median residence worth in New Orleans is $647,0603, which is greater than 3 times increased than the median residence worth in Baton Rouge of $200,9004.
The median lease for a one-bedroom house within the metropolis heart can be a lot increased in New Orleans ($1,967) than in Baton Rouge ($1,166.67)12. Subsequently, housing is the primary issue that makes New Orleans extra expensive than Baton Rouge.
So, in case you are searching for a metropolis that gives extra reasonably priced housing choices and decrease prices of dwelling, Baton Rouge is the place to go.
Verdict: Baton Rouge Wins
Climate
New Orleans and Baton Rouge have related annual climate conditions however with some variations and each cities could expertise excessive climate occasions reminiscent of hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes.
New Orleans could also be extra appropriate for you in case you favor a barely hotter and wetter local weather, whereas Baton Rouge could also be extra appropriate in case you favor a barely cooler and drier local weather.
Verdict: Draw

Public Transportation
New Orleans has a extra in depth and numerous public transportation system than Baton Rouge. It has 4 streetcar strains that run by means of the town’s widespread neighborhoods, such because the French Quarter, St. Charles Avenue, and Metropolis Park.
The town additionally has quite a few bus strains and two ferries that join the East and West banks of the Mississippi River. Moreover, it has a brand new app referred to as Le Cross that permits riders to pay for passes, map their journeys, and monitor the arrival occasions of streetcars, buses, and ferries in actual time.
Baton Rouge, however, has a extra restricted public transportation system than New Orleans. It has 21 bus routes that cowl the town, however no streetcar or ferry service. Baton Rouge additionally has a much less user-friendly app than New Orleans, which solely gives primary info on bus schedules and routes.
Though the town is planning to improve its bus monitoring software and implement a bus speedy transit line alongside Plank Highway and Nicholson Drive, these tasks are going through delays and challenges.
Primarily based on this comparability, we’d say that New Orleans has a extra favorable public transportation system than Baton Rouge, particularly for individuals who wish to discover the town’s tradition, historical past, and sights.
Verdict: New Orleans Wins
Job Alternatives
Now in case you are making a shift as a consequence of job alternatives, then chances are you’ll wish to contemplate transferring to New Orleans.
The town has a extra numerous financial system than Baton Rouge, with sectors reminiscent of tourism, hospitality, leisure, well being care, schooling, and expertise. It’s residence to many cultural sights, festivals, and occasions that entice guests and create jobs for native residents.
Baton Rouge, however, has a extra restricted and concentrated financial system than New Orleans, with sectors reminiscent of authorities, petrochemicals, manufacturing, and schooling. Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana and the seat of many state companies and establishments that make use of a lot of employees.
Generally, New Orleans has extra favorable job alternatives than Baton Rouge, particularly in case you are searching for a wide range of choices and industries. Nevertheless, Baton Rouge could provide extra secure and safe jobs in case you are excited about working for the federal government or the commercial sector.
Verdict: New Orleans Wins

Delicacies & Life-style
Delicacies
In terms of delicacies, each cities have their very own distinctive flavors. New Orleans is legendary for its Creole delicacies which is a mix of French, Spanish, African, and Native American influences.
A number of the widespread dishes embody gumbo, jambalaya, po’boys, and beignets. Baton Rouge is legendary for its Cajun delicacies which is a mix of French and Southern American cooking types. A number of the widespread dishes embody crawfish étouffée, boudin balls, gumbo, and jambalaya.
Life-style
When it comes to way of life, each cities provide a relaxed ambiance. Each cities have their very own distinctive attraction and sights. Should you’re searching for a metropolis with a terrific music scene and wealthy cultural heritage, then New Orleans is perhaps the place for you.
However, in case you’re searching for a metropolis with historic landmarks and museums that provide a glimpse into Louisiana’s previous together with scrumptious Cajun delicacies, then Baton Rouge is perhaps the place for you.
Verdict: Draw
Crime Charges
In line with the information from BestPlaces, the violent crime charge in New Orleans is 49.1 per 100,000 folks, whereas Baton Rouge’s violent crime charge is 47.2 per 100,000 folks 2. When it comes to property crime, New Orleans has a charge of 56.8 per 100,000 folks, whereas Baton Rouge’s property crime charge is increased at 66.4 per 100,000 folks.
One other supply, Bayou Justice, stories that in 2020, Baton Rouge had a violent crime charge of 1,091.8 incidents per 100,000 folks, which is increased than the nationwide common.
The violent crime charge in New Orleans was even increased at 1,214.5 incidents per 100,000 folks. HomeSnacks additionally stories that Baton Rouge has the next violent crime charge in comparison with the state common.
Primarily based on these accessible knowledge, it seems that New Orleans has a barely increased charge in comparison with Baton Rouge, however nonetheless, New Orleans has its protected neighborhoods.
Verdict: Baton Rouge Wins
Commute Instances
The typical commute for residents of Baton Rouge is 2.4 minutes shorter than it’s for residents of New Orleans. In line with BestPlaces, the typical commute time in Baton Rouge is 21.4 minutes, whereas in New Orleans, it’s 23.77 minutes.
Commute time isn’t the one issue to weigh when evaluating the 2 cities. The mode of transportation, site visitors congestion, and distance to work additionally play vital roles. Knowledge from Stacker exhibits that 9.2% of employees in Baton Rouge commute for greater than an hour, in comparison with 6.8% in New Orleans.
36.37% of Baton Rouge employees are employed exterior their residence county, in distinction to 22.96% in New Orleans. It’s clear that extra Baton Rouge employees face long-distance commutes and certain extra site visitors congestion than these in New Orleans.
Given these elements, New Orleans seems to have a greater commuting surroundings than Baton Rouge, even when the typical commute time is a bit longer. New Orleans advantages from a greater diversity of transportation choices, fewer prolonged commutes, and fewer employees touring from exterior the county.
High quality of Life Index
Knowledge from Numbeo exhibits that the standard of life index in New Orleans is 144.51, whereas in Baton Rouge it’s 161.02. Which means Baton Rouge has the next high quality of life than New Orleans, in accordance with this supply.
New Orleans affords a excessive buying energy index of 88.08 and a really excessive local weather index of 86.501 however the security index is low at 31.811.
The price of dwelling index is comparatively excessive at 79.241, however the property price-to-income ratio could be very low at 4.601, making homeownership extra accessible for many individuals.
However, Baton Rouge has the next High quality of Life Index at 161.022. It additionally has a really excessive buying energy index of 113.19 and a really excessive local weather index of 86.442. Just like New Orleans, the security index is low at 28.932.
Baton Rouge has a reasonable price of dwelling index at 71.562 and a fair decrease property price-to-income ratio at 1.662, suggesting that it’s extra reasonably priced to stay and personal a house in Baton Rouge in comparison with New Orleans.
Primarily based on the overall statistics, we’d say that Baton Rouge has a greater high quality of life Index.
Verdict: Baton Rouge Wins
New Orleans vs. Baton Rouge: Which is Higher?
Primarily based on Greenback Sanity findings, it was exhausting to separate between the 2. Whereas dwelling in Baton Rouge had a greater High quality of Life Index, decrease price of dwelling, and crime charges, New Orleans however edged Baton Rouge in elements like a greater public transportation system, job alternatives, and handy commute occasions.
General rating, (3-3).