Baton Rouge, LA Local Data & Statistics

State: LA

Total population: 222,771 Household income: $49,994 Rent: $1,067

Overview

Total population

222,771

Rent

$1,067

Year built

1976

Household income

$49,994

Per capita income

$34,731

Poverty rate

25.7%

Unemployment rate

4.3%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

53%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Louisiana

Total population

222,771

Adults over 25

133,438

Total households

88,205

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$49,994

Per capita income

$34,731

Poverty rate

25.7%

Unemployment rate

4.3%

Rent over 30% of income

53%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,067

Year built

1976

Households that rent

52.2%

Households that own

47.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.9

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

35.8%

Black

50.5%

Asian

Two or more races

5.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

6.2%

Not Hispanic or Latino

93.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

91.8%

Commute time to work

21 mins

Work from home

8.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

30.3%

High school graduate or GED

25.7%

Some college or associate degree

7.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

36.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Baton Rouge, LA with: Louisiana United States

Baton Rouge, LA

Total population222,771

Rent$1,067

Year built1976

Household income$49,994

Per capita income$34,731

Poverty rate25.7%

Unemployment rate4.3%

Louisiana State

Total population4,611,961

Rent$1,064

Year built1983

Household income$60,756

Per capita income$35,038

Poverty rate18.9%

Unemployment rate4.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityBaton Rouge, LA	StateLouisiana	CountryUnited States
Total population	222,771	4,611,961	334,922,499
Rent	$1,067	$1,064	$1,413
Year built	1976	1983	1980
Household income	$49,994	$60,756	$80,734
Per capita income	$34,731	$35,038	$44,673
Poverty rate	25.7%	18.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.3%	4.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Baton Rouge, LA, Louisiana and United States →

Summary for Baton Rouge, LA

Baton Rouge is located in Louisiana.

Rent & Income

In Baton Rouge, the typical monthly rent is $1,067 and the typical household income is $49,994. Rent here is similar to Louisiana and lower than the U.S., and household income is lower than both Louisiana and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 25.7%, which is higher than in both Louisiana and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 52.2% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 36.6% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.3%, which is similar to Louisiana and higher than the national rate.

Baton Rouge, LA — Rent vs Household Income

Baton Rouge, LA — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Baton Rouge, LA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,067 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Baton Rouge, LA

Annual Household Income: $49,994

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Baton Rouge, LA

Estimated Rate: 25.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Baton Rouge, LA

In Baton Rouge, LA, households that rent: 46,054 (52.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	46,054	52.2%
Owner-Occupied	42,151	47.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Baton Rouge, LA

In Baton Rouge, LA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 24,414 (53%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	24,414	53%
Other renter households	21,640	47%
Total renter households	46,054	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Baton Rouge, LA

Less than High School: 40,366 people (30.3%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 34,292 people (25.7%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 10,001 people (7.5%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 48,779 people (36.6%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 133,438

📊 Unemployment Rate in Baton Rouge, LA

Estimated Rate: 4.3%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Hialeah, FL221,901 San Bernardino, CA221,774 Tacoma, WA220,482 Port St. Lucie, FL220,453 Huntsville, AL218,814 Modesto, CA218,614 Richmond, VA227,595 Fremont, CA228,518 Santa Clarita, CA229,021 Spokane, WA229,228

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.