The Town FilesBaton Rouge, Louisiana
City in East Baton Rouge Parish · population 227,470 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $234,700
- Household income
- $49,994
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 31.5
Baton Rouge is a city of 227,470 people in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $234,700, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of Louisiana towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Louisiana towns, better transit than 97% of Louisiana towns.
How Baton Rouge ranks
Percentile among Louisiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Louisiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Baton Rouge is worth $234,700, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $49,994, which is more affordable than 8% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $1,067 a month. 47.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Baton Rouge | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $234,700 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $1,067 | $887 |
| Median household income | $49,994 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 47.8% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Baton Rouge
| People | Baton Rouge | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.5 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.2% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.6% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.7% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.6% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 84.6% |
Weather in Baton Rouge
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 40.2°F. About 60.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 88 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 20 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baton Rouge since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 26, 1973 about 5.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 74 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on June 20, 2023.
Severe weather in East Baton Rouge Parish since 1996
East Baton Rouge Parish has been included in 47 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3638: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 16, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4817: Hurricane Francine |
| September 10, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3614: Tropical Storm Francine |
| September 13, 2021 | Coastal Storm | EM-3574: Tropical Storm Nicholas |
| August 29, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4611: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish had 270,603 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,778 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Baton Rouge itself the ACS puts it at 9.2%.
Public schools in Baton Rouge
97 public schools with 51,092 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School | 9-12 | 1,605 | 14.9 |
| Baton Rouge Magnet High School | 9-12 | 1,602 | 17.4 |
| LSU Laboratory School | K-12 | 1,515 | 12.0 |
| Woodlawn High School | 9-12 | 1,450 | 14.2 |
| Liberty High School | 9-12 | 1,241 | 15.0 |
| IDEA Bridge (charter) | K-11 | 1,119 | 31.1 |
| Tara High School | 9-12 | 1,002 | 18.2 |
| Southeast Middle School | 6-8 | 983 | 14.7 |
| IDEA Innovation (charter) | K-11 | 966 | 24.2 |
| BASIS Baton Rouge Materra Campus (charter) | K-9 | 928 | 185.6 |
| Broadmoor Senior High School | 9-12 | 903 | 17.0 |
| Scotlandville Magnet High School | 9-12 | 898 | 14.7 |
Towns near Baton Rouge
- Merrydale, LA4.2 mi · 9,227 people · home $136,100
- Port Allen, LA4.6 mi · 4,939 people · home $181,300
- Gardere, LA5.8 mi · 13,203 people · home $243,300
- Monticello, LA6.0 mi · 5,431 people · home $176,000
- Brownfields, LA7.0 mi · 5,145 people · home $207,200
- Brusly, LA7.9 mi · 2,578 people · home $253,900
- Addis, LA9.4 mi · 6,731 people · home $247,400
- Baker, LA9.9 mi · 12,455 people · home $157,900
Baton Rouge questions
Is Baton Rouge, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Baton Rouge scores better for retirees than 24% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 3%. 14.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.5).
How much does a house cost in Baton Rouge?
The median owner-occupied home in Baton Rouge is valued at $234,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,994, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $1,067 a month.
What is the weather like in Baton Rouge?
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 40.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Baton Rouge get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baton Rouge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 26, 1973. The typical Louisiana town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)