Baton Rouge, LA — City Profile & Demographics 2026
Population 223,699 · Louisiana · Updated May 2026
Population
223,699
Median Income
$49,944
Home Price
$231,011
Unemployment
9.0%
Poverty Rate
25.0%
Bachelor's+
35.8%
Full Demographics — Baton Rouge, LA
27 metrics across 8 categories, compared to US national averages.
Demographics
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 223,699 | — | |
| Pop. Density / sq mi | N/A | — | |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 38.9 | |
| Foreign Born | 7.4% | 13.8% | |
| White | 36.2% | 61.6% | |
| Black | 51.0% | 12.4% | |
| Asian | 3.6% | 6.0% | |
| Hispanic | 6.5% | 18.7% | |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | 13.2% |
Economy
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $49,944 | $74,580 | |
| Per Capita Income | $33,415 | $40,480 | |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $55,297 | $64,500 | |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0% | 3.8% | |
| Poverty Rate | 25.0% | 11.5% | |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 35.8% | 35.8% |
Housing
Source: Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $231,011 | $410,000 | |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.9% | 65.4% |
Safety
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 643 | 380 | |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2824 | 1950 |
Health
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 37.9% | 33.0% | |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 15.3% | 11.6% | |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 21.0% | 14.0% | |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 9.6% | 9.6% | |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.3% | 15.5% | |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 16.7% | 12.5% |
Climate
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | 54.5°F | |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 64.8 in | 30.2 in |
Air Quality
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.9 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 70.0% |
Commute
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | US Average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 23.1 min | 27.0 min |
Compare Baton Rouge with Another City
Popular Comparisons
About Baton Rouge, LA
Baton Rouge is a city in Louisiana, United States. With a population of 223,699, it is one of the notable cities in the region. Compared to the US average, Baton Rouge shows stronger commute time (23 min average commute vs 27 min average commute US avg) and air quality (75% good air days vs 70% good air days US avg). However, the city has a higher household income at $49,944 median HH income, compared to the US average of $74,580 median HH income. Data sourced from US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Survey (2023), CDC PLACES, FBI CDE, NOAA, and EPA.