Baton Rouge vs Bryan
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $227,800 in Bryan and $234,700 in Baton Rouge.
- Households earn more in Bryan ($59,289 vs $49,994 median).
- Bryan has more scorching days: 117 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 96.
- Bryan is growing faster: +9.6% since 2020 vs -1.7%.
- Texas has no state income tax on wages; Louisiana's top rate is 3%.
Side by side
| Baton Rouge, LA | Bryan, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 222,795 | 91,996 |
| Growth since 2020 | -1.7% | +9.6% |
| People per square mile | 2,563 | 1,662 |
| Median age | 31.5 | 32.0 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37% | 30% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $49,994 | $59,289 |
| Median home value | $234,700 | $227,800 |
| Home value to income | 4.7× | 3.8× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,067 | $1,195 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 90.8 | 91.0 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 74.2 | 75.1 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $68,100 | $68,200 |
| Homeowners | 48% | 51% |
| Top state income tax | 3% | None |
| Combined sales tax | 10.13% | 8.2% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 21.0 | 18.5 |
| Work from home | 8% | 8% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 9.2% | 5% |
| Poverty rate | 25.7% | 23% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 62° / 42° | 62° / 41° |
| July high / low | 92° / 74° | 95° / 75° |
| Precipitation per year | 62 in | 42 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | n/a |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 96 | 117 |
| Nights below freezing | 18 | 16 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 5 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 98.0 | 88.4 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 36% | 69% |
| Home prices, past year | +2.8% | -2.2% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +24.4% | +42.4% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Baton Rouge: February to March and November. Bryan: February to April and November to December.
Full monthly tables: Baton Rouge weather by month and Bryan weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $68,100 in Baton Rouge and $68,200 in Bryan. Moving from Baton Rouge to Bryan, you would need about $75,100 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.