Baton Rouge Metro Area, LA Local Data & Statistics

State: LA

Total population: 875,313 Household income: $69,599 Rent: $1,135

Overview

Total population

875,313

Rent

$1,135

Year built

1990

Household income

$69,599

Per capita income

$37,693

Poverty rate

16.6%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Household size

2.6 persons

Rent over 30% of income

47.9%

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

Total population

875,313

Adults over 25

570,234

Total households

332,585

Household size

2.6 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

$69,599

Per capita income

$37,693

Poverty rate

16.6%

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Rent over 30% of income

47.9%

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

Housing

Rent

$1,135

Year built

1990

Households that rent

30.9%

Households that own

69.1%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.5

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

Race

White

54.1%

Black

34%

Asian

2.1%

Two or more races

6.4%

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

6.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

93.4%

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

92.1%

Commute time to work

27 mins

Work from home

7.9%

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

28.9%

High school graduate or GED

31%

Some college or associate degree

9.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

30.4%

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 Metro Area, LA with: Louisiana United States

Baton Rouge Metro Area

Total population875,313

Rent$1,135

Year built1990

Household income$69,599

Per capita income$37,693

Poverty rate16.6%

Unemployment rate4.1%

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	Metro AreaBaton Rouge Metro Area	StateLouisiana	CountryUnited States
Total population	875,313	4,611,961	334,922,499
Rent	$1,135	$1,064	$1,413
Year built	1990	1983	1980
Household income	$69,599	$60,756	$80,734
Per capita income	$37,693	$35,038	$44,673
Poverty rate	16.6%	18.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.1%	4.3%	4%

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

Summary for Baton Rouge Metro Area, LA

Baton Rouge metro area is located in LA.

Rent & Income

The typical monthly rent in this metro area is $1,135, while the typical household income is $69,599. Rent in this metro area is higher than Louisiana and lower than the U.S., and household income is higher than Louisiana and lower than the U.S.

Housing & Affordability

This metro area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 30.9% of households. About 47.9% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high cost burden. The poverty rate is about 16.6%, which is lower than the Louisiana rate but higher than the national rate.

Education & Employment

The local unemployment rate is about 4.1%, which is similar to both the Louisiana rate and the national rate.

Baton Rouge Metro Area, LA — Rent vs Household Income

Baton Rouge Metro Area, LA — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Baton Rouge Metro Area, LA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,135 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 Metro Area, LA

Annual Household Income: $69,599

💡 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 Metro Area, LA

Estimated Rate: 16.6%

💡 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 Metro Area, LA

In Baton Rouge Metro Area, LA, households that rent: 102,725 (30.9%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	102,725	30.9%
Owner-Occupied	229,860	69.1%

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 Metro Area, LA

In Baton Rouge Metro Area, LA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 49,163 (47.9%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	49,163	47.9%
Other renter households	53,562	52.1%
Total renter households	102,725	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 Metro Area, LA

Less than High School: 164,917 people (28.9%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 176,824 people (31%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 54,976 people (9.6%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 173,517 people (30.4%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 570,234

📊 Unemployment Rate in Baton Rouge Metro Area, LA

Estimated Rate: 4.1%

💡 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%.

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.