Relocation Guide: Moving to Baton Rouge, LA
March 2, 2023
March 2, 2023
You won’t regret moving to Baton Rouge, whether you enjoy learning about a town’s history, exploring its distinct architecture, or witnessing a medley of various customs and traditions. Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, is one of the liveliest hubs in the state and is renowned for its diverse cuisine, entertaining music, and unique culture.
Baton Rouge, located an hour northwest of New Orleans and an hour east of Lafayette, is bordered by the winding Mississippi River on its western side. Baton Rouge, home to many colleges and universities, serves as an involved social atmosphere for young people. Its streets show over 300 years of history in Louisiana, as well as the fascinating combination of Portuguese, French, and Spanish origins in the state.
Baton Rouge has a bit of something for everyone, from the delicious smells and tastes of Baton Rouge’s Creole cuisine to the thrilling nightlife of the area. Be sure to tour the numerous plantations in the area and visit the Shaw Center for the Arts once you’ve finished moving into your new home. And, of course, the Mardi Gras festival in Baton Rouge is a lifetime experience!
Baton Rouge is Louisiana’s second-largest city after New Orleans, with a population of around 228,000 people. Baton Rouge ranks as the 99th most populous city in the US of the nation’s 314 cities with 100,000 residents or more. Not only does the city boast size, but it also boasts a lively and colorful atmosphere on the east side of the Mississippi River, a medley of cultures, delicious food, and fascinating history. You will acquire invaluable knowledge of the capital city of Louisiana if you chose to settle in Baton Rouge, and you will build unique memories along the way.
Pros:
Delicious Food
High-ranking by U.S. News
A mix of young and old
Combination of History and Culture
Cons:
Unemployment rate
Unforgettable Climate
Traffic
High Crime Rate
Expenses are in line with the national average in Baton Rouge. In Baton Rouge, the cost of living index (out of 100) is 99.5, just 0.5 percent less than the national average. Housing and services in Baton Rouge tend to be marginally cheaper, but you can expect much of your paycheck to be spent on food, transportation, and healthcare.
In Baton Rouge, the median household income is $38,790 a year. However, a family of four living in this Louisiana city needs to raise around $75,700 annually, according to the Family Budget Calculator, to pay the approximate $6,300 a month needed for the following expenses: lodging, food, childcare, transportation, healthcare, taxes, and other necessities. Based on these numbers, both parents need to work to live comfortably.
State Income Tax:
Compared to other states, such as California’s 9.3 percent average income tax, Louisiana’s income tax of 6.0 percent is considered low.
Property Tax:
Baton Rouge provides a slightly lower average property tax rate of 0.536 percent compared to the national average property tax rate of 1.211 percent.
Sales Tax:
Baton Rouge’s aggregate sales tax rate is high at 9.95 percent, according to Avalara.com, but this figure includes sales tax rates for the state, area, and county. The real sales tax rate for the capital of Louisiana is a comfortable 5.5 percent. There are also areas of Baton Rouge that have no sales tax, such as East Baton Rouge Parish.
About half of the residents of Baton Rouge are homeowners, while 44 percent of the residents rent. The median home value in Baton Rouge was $162,900 as of July 2019, which is slightly less than the median national home cost of $229,000. Home prices have dropped 1.5 percent over the past year, according to Zillow, and are expected to continue to drop another 1.5 percent in 2020. The median rental price is $1,250 if you choose to rent, significantly lower than the national average monthly rent of $1,390.
Brownfields, Central, Baker, and Zachary are a couple of the cheapest neighborhoods in Baton Rouge. Although there’s a risk that crime rates in these areas could be higher, this is not always the case.
While the overall U.S. unemployment rate is 3.9%, Baton Rouge’s unemployment rate is slightly higher at 4.7%. There is renewed optimism for the city, however, as there has been a 1.3 percent rise in available employment from 2018-2019, and Baton Rouge is expected to see more of an increase in the work market in the next decade.
Baton Rouge attracts large-scale industries because of its deep-water port handling river barges and ocean-going ships, plus its proximity to vast natural resources. Petrochemicals, processing, agriculture, oil, natural gas, medical research, and technology are key industries. In Baton Rouge, commercial fishing is also a large industry.
Jobs in construction and mining; manufacturing; commerce, transportation and utilities; information; finance; technical and business services; education and health services; hospitality; and government are available with a diverse employment base.
Filling out application forms and planning for the required tests are some tips to help you find a rewarding career in Baton Rouge. You should visit the Louisiana Workforce Commission if you’re unsure about what job to apply for, and they’ll help you decide which profession you should pursue.
The unusual medley of culture, history, and architecture of Baton Rouge makes it an exciting town to explore. There is not a lack of things to do in and around Baton Rouge, from festivals to museums, to restaurants. You can dive deep into the rich vibrancy of one of the liveliest cities in Louisiana, no matter whether you’re from the big city or the region.
The Shaw Center for the Arts is located on the eastern banks of the Mississippi River and is an immersive museum for people of all ages. If you’re interested in immersing yourself in Baton Rouge’s history, you can visit some of the pre-Civil War plantation houses.
A visit to the State Capitol of Louisiana, now a museum, gives you a glimpse of a classic antebellum landmark. To explore nature, would you like to take a break from history? Enjoy the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center or visit Louisiana State University with Mike the Tiger.
You can see Baton Rouge’s favorite sports teams face off at LSU Tiger Stadium if you’re a sports fan. College football is a popular pastime of the people of Baton Rouge, and the Louisiana State University Tigers and the Southern University Jaguars are some of the city’s favorite players.
If you have kids, it’s important to know the different schooling choices open to you. Baton Rouge has two school districts: the Parish School District of East Baton Rouge and the School District of Central City. With 87 schools and a total of 41,620 students, the former is the larger of the two, while the latter operates five schools and serves 4,670 students.
The LSU Laboratory School, the Southern University Lab School, and the Deaf and Visually Disabled LA Schools still exist. Baton Rouge schools predominantly rank average or above average, according to Greatschools.org. Three of the top schools in Baton Rouge are Baton Rouge Magnet High School, Audubon Elementary School, and Sherwood Middle Academic Academy.
You may be pursuing a form of higher learning. If so, the Baton Rouge region has 15 colleges and universities. Louisiana State University is home to the region, but there are also colleges for students pursuing education, among many other degree programs, in the medical, technical, or culinary arts fields.
Companies that will helps moving to Baton Rouge
Xfinity Moving
College Hunk
Two Men and a Truck
All My Sons Moving and Storage
U-Haul
College Hunk
Portable On Demands
Budget Truck Rental
1-800-PACK-RAT
Penske
Best Interstate Moving + Storage
The three interstates that cross Baton Rouge are I-10 continues through the city toward New Orleans, beginning at the Horace Wilkinson Bridge. In the city center, I-12 begins and continues east. I-110 runs north-south to Baton Rouge Metro Airport, running through downtown and heading north.
Baton Rouge is notorious for having some of the worst traffic in the country, even though Walkscore.com scores Baton Rouge 41/100 for walkability, which means that most people are reliant on cars. The Advocate rates congestion as the 19th worst traffic delay in the US on I-10 and I-110. The rail, highway, airport, and shipping transportation network creates complex congestion in and around the area, given its position as a major port and cargo center. Then, traffic takes on another challenge when you introduce specific activities like Mardi Gras or football games.
You’re better off using public transport if you don’t want to get caught up in traffic, as biking has also earned a low rating of 43/100. Within the city of Baton Rouge, the bus service is operated by the Capital Region Transit System (CATS). Taxis and shuttles are available as well.
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