Named by French explorers as the “Red Stick City,” Baton Rouge is Louisiana’s capital city bursting with history and culture. A beautiful fusion of Cajun and Creole culture molds an extraordinary experience throughout this riverfront city.
The Louisiana State Capitol building dominates the landscape of downtown Baton Rouge, a gargantuan tower built in classic 1930s art deco style. Next door, the historic Spanish Town is a popular community for artists and bohemian types, with beautifully preserved homes and tree-shaded streets giving the impression of a charming small town.
While Baton Rouge is home to several colleges, Louisiana State University is the hub of the city. Tiger football is the undisputed center of attention throughout the fall. The famous Tiger Walk, tailgating, and raucous home games at Tiger Stadium, also known as Death Valley, is an experience thousands enjoy every season.
The area surrounding the LSU campus is loaded with nightlife and entertainment options catering to the student body. Staying true to its colorful emulsion of culture, Baton Rouge is filled with Creole and Cajun eateries but also offers other cuisines. Try a classic Louisiana Po’ boy and fried seafood at Poor Boy Lloyd’s. Most of the activity in town is clustered together near the Mississippi River, and the areas farther east get more subdued and slower-paced, providing tranquil home environments. Whether you’re a student looking for an apartment close to campus or a family looking for a home in a southern town, Baton Rouge is ideal.
The Louisiana State Capitol Building in Baton Rouge
Built in 1847, the Old State Capitol Building is now a museum
As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Baton Rouge, LA is $898 for a studio, $1,021 for one bedroom, $1,198 for two bedrooms, and $1,403 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Baton Rouge has decreased by -0.3% in the past year.
The cost of living in Baton Rouge, LA is 10.3% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Baton Rouge is 21.7% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $898 - $1,403. You can expect to pay 2.9% less for groceries, 28.2% less for utilities, and 10.2% less for transportation.
If you love Mardi Gras, live somewhere that shares your passion! Explore other cities that host the biggest celebrations in the U.S.
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Baton Rouge, LA is for everyday living.
Car-Dependent
This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.
Somewhat Bikeable
You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.
Public
Grades PK-8
Westdale Heights Academic Magnet School
Public
Grades PK-5
Public
Grades K-8
BASIS Baton Rouge Materra Campus
Public
Grades K-8
Public
Grades K-12
Public
Grades PK-8
Public
Grades K-8
BASIS Baton Rouge Materra Campus
Public
Grades K-8
Public
Grades K-12
Sherwood Middle Academic Academy
Public
Grades 6-8
Baton Rouge Magnet High School
Public
Grades 9-12
Public
Grades K-12
Public
Grades 9-12
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Grades 9-12
Public
Grades 9-12
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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17
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2,504
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5
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18
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3,700
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10
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57
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17,059
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34
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10
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1,227
Units
5
Cities
315
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76,967
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144
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14
Communities
1,658
Units
4
Cities
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
