Residential comparison · 13 facts
Baton Rouge, LA vs Central, LA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Baton Rouge needs about $90,500 in Central to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Central, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $79,500 in Baton Rouge.
A few differences
- Central is higher on median household income ($89,554 vs $49,994).
- Baton Rouge is lower on cost of living index (83 vs 85).
- Central is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,018/mo vs $1,091/mo).
Baton Rouge vs Central · facet by facet
| Facet | Baton Rouge, LA | Central, LA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $234,700 | $288,700 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,091/mo | $1,018/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.55% | 0.55% |
| State & local income tax | 3.01% | 3.01% |
| Sales tax | 9.55% | 9.55% |
| Cost of living index | 83 | 85 |
| Groceries index | 97 | 97 |
| Utilities | $165/mo | $165/mo |
| Median household income | $49,994 | $89,554 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.2% |
| Crime index | 75/100 | 75/100 |
| School rating | 4.2/10 | 4.2/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 215 days | 215 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Baton Rouge, LA · Central, LA
Questions & answers
- Is Baton Rouge cheaper than Central?
- Baton Rouge has the lower day-to-day cost index (83 vs 85 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Central equals $85,000 in Baton Rouge?
- A household earning $85,000 in Baton Rouge needs about $90,500 in Central to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Central lifestyle costs about $79,500 in Baton Rouge.