Baton Rouge vs Houma
Compare Baton Rouge, LA and Houma, LA on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,072/mo in Baton Rouge and $927/mo in Houma, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,277/mo and $1,117/mo. Across the four public-data screens Baton Rouge comes out ahead (219 vs 207 summed points), though Houma still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 92°F and 91°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Houma; if walkable daily life matters more, Baton Rouge screens stronger on the walkability proxy (10 vs 5). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Houma leads 75 to 69 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Baton Rouge leads 35 to 28 on the daily life screen.
Baton Rouge leads 45 to 32 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Baton Rouge is roughly $141,667 in Houma using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge | Houma | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,072/mo | $927/mo | Houma |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,277/mo | $1,117/mo | Houma |
| Median home value | $224,000 | $176,000 | Houma |
| State income tax | 3% | 3% | Tie |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 27.9 min | Houma |
| Safety score | 26/100 | 31/100 | Houma |
| School score | 5/10 | 2/10 | Baton Rouge |
| Walkability estimate | 10/100 | 5/100 | Baton Rouge |
| Outdoor score | 5/10 | 5/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 168.1 | 141.7 | Baton Rouge |
| Mountain distance | 236 mi | 267 mi | Baton Rouge |
| Coast distance | 52 mi | 21 mi | Houma |
What stands out
Baton Rouge stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Coast access within 52 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Baton Rouge tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Houma stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Named beach within 28 miles
- Coast access within 21 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Houma tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Common questions
Is Baton Rouge cheaper than Houma?
On public benchmarks Houma is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,072/mo in Baton Rouge vs $927/mo in Houma; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,277/mo vs $1,117/mo; state income tax is 3% vs 3%.
Is Baton Rouge or Houma safer?
Houma screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 26/100 for Baton Rouge and 31/100 for Houma (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Baton Rouge or Houma?
School screens show 5/10 for Baton Rouge vs 2/10 for Houma, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Baton Rouge and Houma?
Baton Rouge: summer highs near 92°F, winter lows near 39°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Houma: 91°F / 42°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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