Baton Rouge vs Shreveport
Compare Baton Rouge, LA and Shreveport, 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 $956/mo in Shreveport, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,277/mo and $1,073/mo. Across the four public-data screens Shreveport comes out ahead (233 vs 219 summed points), though Baton Rouge 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 Shreveport; if walkable daily life matters more, Baton Rouge screens stronger on the walkability proxy (10 vs 7). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Shreveport leads 75 to 69 on the cost and climate screen.
Shreveport leads 76 to 70 on the work screen.
Shreveport leads 42 to 35 on the daily life screen.
Baton Rouge leads 45 to 40 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Baton Rouge is roughly $141,667 in Shreveport using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge | Shreveport | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,072/mo | $956/mo | Shreveport |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,277/mo | $1,073/mo | Shreveport |
| Median home value | $224,000 | $177,000 | Shreveport |
| State income tax | 3% | 3% | Tie |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 23.4 min | Shreveport |
| Safety score | 26/100 | 31/100 | Shreveport |
| School score | 5/10 | 3/10 | Baton Rouge |
| Walkability estimate | 10/100 | 7/100 | Baton Rouge |
| Outdoor score | 5/10 | 6/10 | Shreveport |
| Restaurants per 100k | 168.1 | 168.1 | Shreveport |
| Mountain distance | 236 mi | 96 mi | Shreveport |
| Coast distance | 52 mi | 178 mi | Baton Rouge |
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
Shreveport stronger signals
- Trail access within 28 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Shreveport tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Common questions
Is Baton Rouge cheaper than Shreveport?
On public benchmarks Shreveport is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,072/mo in Baton Rouge vs $956/mo in Shreveport; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,277/mo vs $1,073/mo; state income tax is 3% vs 3%.
Is Baton Rouge or Shreveport safer?
Shreveport screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 26/100 for Baton Rouge and 31/100 for Shreveport (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Baton Rouge or Shreveport?
School screens show 5/10 for Baton Rouge vs 3/10 for Shreveport, 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 Shreveport?
Baton Rouge: summer highs near 92°F, winter lows near 39°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Shreveport: 91°F / 41°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.
Start City Match