Baton Rouge, LA Metro Area

Baton Rouge, LA · Metro Area

875,313Population

A metropolitan statistical area of 10 counties (5 central, 5 outlying), part of the Baton Rouge-Hammond, LA combined area. The counties are tied together by commuting: people live in one and work in another.

Median household income: $69,599
Median home value: $241,100
Land area: 4,371 sq mi

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Counties in this metro area

Central counties hold the urban core; outlying counties are linked to it by commuting.

County	Role	Population	Median income	Median home value
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA	Central	452,938	$63,071	$248,800
Livingston Parish, LA	Central	148,115	$80,122	$230,600
Ascension Parish, LA	Central	130,314	$91,549	$279,600
Iberville Parish, LA	Central	29,815	$54,000	$172,800
West Baton Rouge Parish, LA	Central	27,974	$87,299	$229,900
Assumption Parish, LA	Outlying	20,484	$51,423	$150,300
Pointe Coupee Parish, LA	Outlying	20,217	$65,961	$179,300
East Feliciana Parish, LA	Outlying	19,271	$73,085	$228,100
West Feliciana Parish, LA	Outlying	15,327	$77,452	$245,700
St. Helena Parish, LA	Outlying	10,858	$41,934	$77,300

Largest cities and towns

61 places in our city pages lie in this area; the 25 largest are shown.

Place	Type	Population	Median income
Baton Rouge, LA	City	222,771	$49,994
Prairieville, LA	CDP	35,238	$104,923
Central, LA	City	29,783	$89,554
Zachary, LA	City	19,952	$84,480
Shenandoah, LA	CDP	17,998	$107,021
Gonzales, LA	City	13,108	$75,451
Baker, LA	City	12,253	$54,750
Gardere, LA	CDP	12,223	$55,409
Merrydale, LA	CDP	9,490	$41,500
Denham Springs, LA	City	9,323	$71,569
Oak Hills Place, LA	CDP	9,038	$92,306
Village St. George, LA	CDP	8,273	$96,364
Old Jefferson, LA	CDP	7,860	$92,075
Addis, LA	Town	7,252	$108,041
Donaldsonville, LA	City	6,831	$23,618
St. Gabriel, LA	City	6,639	$74,688
Walker, LA	Town	6,390	$80,707
Inniswold, LA	CDP	6,357	$102,337
Plaquemine, LA	City	6,075	$69,366
Port Allen, LA	City	4,942	$59,474
New Roads, LA	City	4,404	$51,328
Brownfields, LA	CDP	4,261	$65,929
Monticello, LA	CDP	3,999	$70,441
Jackson, LA	Town	3,958	$37,844
Brusly, LA	Town	2,593	$105,538

Also in the Baton Rouge-Hammond, LA combined area

Hammond, LA · metro · 136,738

Demographic Rates

Poverty Rate

16.6%

Unemployment

6.5%

College Educated

30.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1701, S2301, S1501

Race & Ethnicity

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B02001, B03003

Income Profile

Median Household Income

$69,599

Mean Household Income

$96,334

Income Distribution

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1901, S1902, S1903, B19013, B19113

Sex Distribution

Male

49.1%

Female

50.9%

Population Split

Male49.1%

Female50.9%

The sex distribution of a population provides insight into the demographic balance of a community. Significant skews in this ratio can be influenced by local industries (e.g., military bases, mining, or tech hubs), educational institutions, or migration patterns. Understanding this balance is essential for planning public health initiatives and social services.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0101

Ancestry

French9.5%

English7.8%

German6.5%

Irish6.4%

Italian4.8%

Mexican1.8%

Scottish1.0%

African1.0%

Polish0.5%

Reported ancestry groups representing the cultural heritage of the population. Percentages may not sum to 100% as residents may report multiple ancestries or none.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B04006

Immigration & Nativity

Nativity Status

5.4%Foreign Born

94.6%Native Born

Citizenship Status

Naturalized35.4%

Non-Citizen64.6%

Period of Entry

2010 or Later53.0%

Before 201047.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B05001, B05002

Housing Characteristics

Total Housing Units

384,016

Median Rent

$1,135/mo

Median Home Value

$241,100

Median Year Built

1990

Housing Tenure

Housing Types

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table DP04

Education Enrollment

Total Enrolled

230,463

College Enrollment

23.9%

High School

19.2%

College Educated

30.4%

K-12 Enrollment

Higher Education

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1401, S1501

Transportation & Commute

Mean Commute Time

27.2 min

Drive Alone Rate

80.0%

Public Transit

0.7%

Work From Home

7.9%

Commute Mode

Vehicle Ownership

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0801, B08141

Age Distribution

Under 18

23.4%

18-34 Years

25.0%

35-64 Years

36.4%

65+ Years

15.2%

Population Composition

Under 1823.4%

18-3425.0%

35-6436.4%

65+15.2%

The age distribution of a community impacts local services, school requirements, and the labor market. A higher percentage of youth suggests a need for schools and family services, while a larger senior population may indicate a retirement destination or a need for healthcare services.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0101

Household Composition

Married Couples

43.1%

Single Parent

7.7%

Living Alone

29.7%

Avg Size

2.55

Household Types

Married Couples43.1%

Single Parent7.7%

Living Alone29.7%

Household composition offers insights into the social fabric of a community. A high percentage of married couples often correlates with stability and higher household incomes, while a significant number of single-person households may indicate a younger transient population or an aging community.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1101

Economic Profile

Per Capita Income

$37,693

SNAP Usage

15.1%

Health Insurance

92.3%

Household Income Breakdown

Under $25k18.8%

$25k - $50k18.6%

$50k - $100k27.6%

$100k+35.0%

Key Industries

Manufacturing

9.5%

Retail Trade

10.3%

Education & Health Care

24.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1901, S2201, DP03

Health & Disability

Disability Rate

14.7%With Disability

Percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability.

Health Insurance Coverage

92.3%With Coverage

Percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population with health insurance coverage.

Why this matters: High disability rates may indicate a need for accessible infrastructure and specialized healthcare services. Health insurance coverage is a key indicator of a community's access to preventative care and financial resilience against medical emergencies.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1810, S2701

Technology Access

Broadband Internet

90.4%vs ~90% National Avg

Computer Ownership

94.8%vs ~95% National Avg

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S2801

Cost of Living & Housing

Cost of Living Scale

Lower is better

90.8

0130

Below average< 97

Near average97 - 103

Above average> 103

Prices compared with the US average (100). 105 means about 5% more expensive than average.

Housing Affordability

Higher is better

149.7

0200

Hard to Afford< 80

Moderate80 - 100

Affordable> 100

100 means a family earning the median family income just qualifies to buy the median-value home (20% down, 30-year loan at 6.72%).

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities · NAR affordability formula with Census ACS 2020–2024 incomes and home values and the Freddie Mac 30-year rate (2024)

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