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Vital Statistics: Quality of Life

Overall Cost of Living

With the amenities provided in the mid-sized city of Baton Rouge and the surrounding region, the overall cost of living is 101.4. This is slightly higher than the national average cost of living set at 100.

Housing Costs

The Baton Rouge region offers tremendous value in the housing market. Baton Rouge ranked 71st out of the 156 metropolitan areas included in the National Association of Realtors 2005 Median Sales Price of Existing Single-Family Homes Survey.


Source: National Association of Realtors

The median single-family home price in the Baton Rouge MSA in 2005 was $164,600. Baton Rouge’s median single-family home price is nearly $60,000 and 29% less than the national median home value. It is also nearly $31,000 and 17% lower than the median value of the southern United States region.

Commuting

The average one-way trip to work commute time in Baton Rouge is 22 minutes, which is 13% lower than the national average commute time. Although public transportation is available, 99% of the Baton Rouge workforce drives a personal vehicle on one of the two interstates that feed into the city or any of the numerous highways and four-lane roads that function as major traffic arteries connecting the downtown business area to the surrounding parishes.

Chart: Average commute times for Metro Areas in U.S. - Baton Rouge 22.4 minutes

Baton Rouge’s average commute time compares favorably to cities of the same size as well as metropolitan areas smaller than Baton Rouge.

Baton Rouge has a mild year-round climate with no road closures due to snow, wind, or rain.

The Baton Rouge Capital Area Transit System is the public transportation bus service. Most routes run six days a week from approximately 5:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. with an adult fare of $1.75.

Healthcare

Baton Rouge’s healthcare options include six large acute-care hospitals, with a total of more than 1,500 beds, as well as a number of smaller specialty hospitals and clinics. There is also a wide range of primary care physicians and specialists available to serve the medical needs of the community. Nursing home patients can choose from 26 different facilities, with a total of more than 3,000 beds. More than 200 dentists are located in Baton Rouge, including general dentists, cosmetic dentists, orthodontists, and other dental specialists. (Sources: Louisiana Hospital Association, American Hospital Directory, Louisiana Department of Health & Human Services, American Dental Association)

Arts & Culture

Baton Rouge is steeped in a colorful blend of cultures and traditions, which infuses every facet of life. Locals and visitors alike can get at taste of the region’s Cajun and Creole cuisine at the parish’s many restaurants, or spend some time at a local club enjoying our indigenous zydeco, blues, and jazz music. Dance, music and art are thriving in Baton Rouge!

For music lovers, Baton Rouge offers:

  1. Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra
  2. Louisiana Sinfonietta, a professional chamber orchestra
  3. Baton Rouge Concert Band, a volunteer band that performs several free concerts each year,
  4. Baton Rouge Opera, performs three productions each year, featuring both local and national artists
  5. Music programs offered through Louisiana State University (LSU)
  6. Live bands performing at many local clubs
  7. “Live After Five” series of free outdoor concerts

Other venues for live performances include:

  1. Swine Palace Productions at the Reilly Theatre at LSU
  2. Claude L. Shaver Theatre at LSU
  3. Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre, which does an annual production of The Nutcracker: a Tale from the Bayou, featuring both professional dancers and local children, as well as other productions throughout the year
  4. Baton Rouge Little Theater
  5. Manship Theatre, located in the Shaw Center for the Arts
  6. Baton Rouge River Center Theatre for the Performing Arts
  7. Playmakers of Baton Rouge, which focuses on education and entertainment of younger audiences
  8. Of Moving Colors, with performances that incorporate dance, visual arts, literature, and music

Art enthusiasts will find galleries throughout the parish, especially downtown and in the Mid-City area. Other great art venues include:

  1. The Shaw Center for the Arts
  2. Louisiana Art and Science Museum
  3. LSU Museum of Art
  4. Baton Rouge Gallery, a non-profit gallery supporting contemporary artists, with 12 – 15 exhibits each year
  5. Downtown Arts Market, held every Saturday morning alongside the Red Stick Farmers’ Market

Annual Events

A broad variety of annual events gives local residents, not to mention tourists, something special to do all year long. The list grows longer each year, but some of the highlights include:

  1. Mardi Gras parades
  2. Earth Day Festival
  3. FestForAll
  4. Baton Rouge Blues Week
  5. Star-Spangled Celebration
  6. Red Stick Animation Festival
  7. Greater Baton Rouge State Fair
  8. Hot Air Balloon Championship Festival
  9. White Light Night Art Hop
  10. North Boulevard Festival of Lights
  11. Downtown Christmas parade
  12. Christmas on the River

Sports

Being home to Louisiana State University and Southern University has its advantages ... the Baton Rouge community enthusiastically supports the Tigers and the Jaguars, and turns out in full force for both home and away games. Equally as important as the games themselves, Baton Rouge has elevated tailgating to a sport in and of itself, with elaborate food, music, and a non-stop party atmosphere.

Because of its moderate climate, golf is played year-round in Baton Rouge. In addition to several private golf courses, the local parks & recreation commission (BREC) operates seven courses, including two premium courses, two nine-hole courses, and three other 18-hole courses which offer quality play at modest prices.

Tennis lessons and leagues are likewise available year-round. BREC operates numerous free tennis courts at parks throughout the parish. There are also four tennis centers with lighted courts which may be reserved for a small fee. BREC offers the only computerized hitting wall in the state at the Independence Park Tennis Center.

For soccer lovers, the Baton Rouge Soccer Association offers leagues for children and adults. Seven fields located at the Independence Park Soccer Complex are available for league play and practices. The BREC Burbank Soccer Complex has 12 fields of varying sizes to accommodate youth, high school, and adult leagues.

Additional Attractions

Whether your goal is recreation, education, or just relaxation, Baton Rouge offers some spectacular ways to spend your time.

  1. BREC-LSU Highland Road Observatory
  2. BREC’s Bluebonnet Swamp and Nature Center
  3. Louisiana State Archives
  4. Louisiana State Capitol
  5. Louisiana’s Old State Capitol
  6. Old Governor’s Mansion
  7. Pentagon Barracks Museum
  8. Louisiana State Museum
  9. Irene Pennington Planetarium
  10. LSU Hilltop Arboretum
  11. LSU Museum of Natural History
  12. LSU Rural Life Museum & Windrush Gardens
  13. Magnolia Mound Plantation
  14. USS Kidd and Nautical Center
  15. BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo
  16. BREC’s Laurens H. Cohn Memorial Arboretum
  17. Baker Heritage Museum and Cultural Center
  18. Mary Ann Brown Preserve
  19. Port Hudson State Historic Site
  20. Zachary Historic Village
  21. Red Stick Farmers’ Market
  22. Blue Bayou Water Park & Dixie Landing Amusement Park
  23. Enchanted Mansion Doll Museum
  24. Louisiana Mud Paintings

Recreation

Baton Rouge offers a tremendous diversity of activities. Tennis, golf, recreation centers, public swimming pools, numerous parks, movie theaters, bowling alleys, roller skating and ice skating are all available. In addition, the local parks and recreation commission offers recreational classes for children, adults, and seniors, as well as horseback riding, archery, a BMX raceway, an in-line skating velodrome, a skateboarding facility, and dog parks. Boating, fishing, hiking, and bike riding are also popular activities in the parish. The East Baton Rouge Parish library system is a great local resource for books, movies, music, and special programs. There is a centrally located main library and 12 other branches throughout
the parish.

Thriving Downtown

There’s always something going on in Baton Rouge’s thriving downtown area. Located on the eastern banks of the Mississippi River, downtown Baton Rouge is a hub of governmental and commercial activity. The state capitol, the governor’s office, and a variety of state agencies are headquartered downtown, as are many other businesses and professional offices.

The Baton Rouge River Center attracts thousands each year to conventions, tradeshows, live performances, and other events. Educational opportunities abound with significant historic buildings, such as the Old State Capitol Building and the Old Governor’s mansion, and museums such as the Louisiana Art and Science Museum and the USS Kidd and Nautical Center. The Shaw Center for the Arts draws many people downtown for art exhibits, live performances, and rooftop dining.

On the weekends, downtown Baton Rouge takes on a more relaxed atmosphere, with a Saturday farmers’ market and arts market. The downtown area is also a prime location for a variety of festivals, parades, and free outdoor concerts throughout the year.

Downtown continues to be a hot spot for development, with plans in the works for transforming a number of older buildings into a mix of residential, retail, and
commercial space.

Shopping

When it comes to shopping, Baton Rouge offers something for everyone. Shopping centers with major national retailers are located throughout the parish, convenient to virtually all residential areas. The Mall at Cortana features several major department stores, more than 110 specialty shops, and a food court. The Mall of Louisiana has 155 stores, including department stores, national upscale chains, local retailers, and a food court with a carousel. New retail developments are flourishing in the Bocage area of Baton Rouge, which has long been known for its upscale shops. The Baton Rouge Design District, located in Mid-City, is a hot spot for furniture and antiques. Mid-City is also the place for those who creative one-of-a-kind shops, galleries, and restaurants.

Religion

All major denominations are represented in Baton Rouge’s churches, synagogues, and mosques. Many of the area’s hundreds of churches played a critical role in providing services to evacuees during and after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and they continue to support recovery efforts. In addition, the area’s Catholic, Episcopal, and other religious schools provide a quality private school education to thousands of area children.

Climate

Baton Rouge has a semi-tropical climate. With mild winters, outdoor activities can be enjoyed year-round.

  1. Average annual temperature: 67.5
  2. January average temperature: 50.8
  3. July average temperature: 82.1
  4. Average annual rainfall: 55.8”

 

 

 

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