The Baton Rouge metro area: Ascension Parish, Assumption Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish, East Feliciana Parish, Iberville Parish, Livingston Parish, Pointe Coupee Parish, St. Helena Parish, West Baton Rouge Parish and West Feliciana Parish · Population 875,313 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Baton Rouge area
Household size in the Baton Rouge area
| Period | Baton Rouge area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.69 | 2.66 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.68 | 2.64 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.73 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.63 | 2.59 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.07 | −0.03 |
Households in the Baton Rouge area average 2.63 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.69, in line with the national trend. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the west.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the Baton Rouge area
| Period | Baton Rouge area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.3 | 36.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.2 | 37.4 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.8 | 38.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.1 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +2.2 | +2.3 |
The Baton Rouge area is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.1, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 35.3 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The Baton Rouge area is younger than the great majority of large metro areas.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the Baton Rouge area
| Period | Baton Rouge area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.1% | 14.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 15.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 14.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.0% | 15.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | +0.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in the Baton Rouge area than nationally: 14.0%, against 11.6%. Even so, single parents are less common here than in Louisiana overall (15.2%). The Baton Rouge area has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of large metro areas.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the Baton Rouge area
Renters in the Baton Rouge area
| Period | Baton Rouge area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.5% | 31.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.4% | 33.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.0% | 34.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.9% | 32.6% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in the Baton Rouge area rent their homes (30.9%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 43.9% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the northeast.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the Baton Rouge area
| Period | Baton Rouge area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 13.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.6% | 15.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 14.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.1% of the housing in the Baton Rouge area, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is up 3.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the Baton Rouge area
| Period | Baton Rouge area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1990 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +7 | +6 |
The Baton Rouge area has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1990, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1982 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the west has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the Baton Rouge area
| Period | Baton Rouge area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $775 | $755 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $890 | $831 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,001 | $920 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,207 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$432 | +$366 | +$606 |
The median renter in the Baton Rouge area pays $1,207 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in Louisiana overall ($1,122). Rents are up $432 a month from 2006–10, a 56% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 33.4% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the Baton Rouge area
Bachelor's degrees in the Baton Rouge area
| Period | Baton Rouge area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.3% | 22.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.9% | 22.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.6% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.5% | 27.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +5.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over three in ten adults 25 and older in the Baton Rouge area (31.5%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. Even so, the share is higher than in Louisiana overall (27.5%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.3 points, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the Baton Rouge area
| Period | Baton Rouge area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.1% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.9% | 83.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.7% | 85.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.9% | 87.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +5.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Baton Rouge area is close to the national rate: 88.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in Louisiana overall (87.2%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.8 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the Baton Rouge area
| Period | Baton Rouge area | Louisiana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 7.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 6.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in the Baton Rouge area: 6.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Only eight of the 100 large U.S. metro areas have higher unemployment. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the Baton Rouge area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge area (all) | 2.63 | 37.1 | 14.0% | 30.9% | 14.1% | 1990 | $1,207 | 31.5% | 88.9% | 6.8% |
| Denham Springs | 2.78 | 36.1 | 13.8% | 21.9% | 9.5% | 2000 | $1,214 | 23.8% | 90.3% | 3.9% |
| Prairieville | 2.91 | 36.8 | 12.8% | 15.3% | 6.1% | 2002 | $1,423 | 36.5% | 92.9% | 2.8% |
| Shenandoah | 2.60 | 36.9 | 14.8% | 39.2% | 8.8% | 1991 | $1,252 | 43.1% | 94.4% | 6.5% |
| Gonzales | 2.60 | 39.5 | 15.9% | 21.8% | 8.2% | 2000 | $1,532 | 23.7% | 86.5% | 6.3% |
| Zachary | 2.61 | 40.4 | 10.6% | 20.6% | 6.6% | 1998 | $1,568 | 37.1% | 94.4% | 6.6% |
| Walker | 2.80 | 36.5 | 14.2% | 17.4% | 8.8% | 2002 | $1,145 | 16.3% | 88.8% | 5.5% |
| Central | 2.52 | 43.5 | 11.0% | 14.8% | 9.7% | 1991 | $1,275 | 32.6% | 95.5% | 2.6% |
| Baker | 2.85 | 37.2 | 24.7% | 24.5% | 14.0% | 1985 | $1,201 | 23.4% | 90.0% | 13.7% |
| Morgan City | 2.68 | 40.4 | 19.4% | 34.6% | 18.6% | 1973 | $944 | 14.3% | 77.3% | 5.5% |
| Plaquemine | 2.36 | 40.9 | 13.9% | 22.3% | 17.4% | 1982 | $856 | 17.2% | 83.9% | 5.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Oxnard area · Allentown area · Worcester area · New Haven area · El Paso area · McAllen area · Albany area · Knoxville area · Bakersfield area · Albuquerque area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the Baton Rouge area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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