Gonzales receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Gonzales
Baton Rouge
Opportunity
71 · Top 21%
vs53 · Bottom 43%
Growth
93 · Top 1%
vs59 · Top 34%
Climate
77 · Top 25%
vs77 · Top 25%
Physical resilience
31 · Bottom 25%
vs47 · Bottom 39%
Housing affordability
87 · Top 39%
vs63 · Bottom 25%
Schools
62 · Top 37%
vs41 · Bottom 36%
Access
78 · Bottom 19%
vs70 · Bottom 12%
Economic stability
62 · Top 45%
vs31 · Bottom 7%
Measured values
| Metric | Gonzales | Baton Rouge | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,108 | 222,771 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $75,451 | $49,994 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,944 | $34,731 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,431/sq mi | 2,562/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $225,800 | $234,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,497 | $1,067 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.6% | 47.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 5.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.0% | 2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 36.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | 25.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 401 | 1,479 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 30.6 | 6.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 498.5% | -23.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 42°F | 42°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 61.9" | 61.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 42 mi | 53 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.7 min | 22.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.9 | 31.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 78 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 12.72 | 13.27 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 34.0% | 25.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 46.5% | 37.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 61.8% | 69.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Gonzales
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Baton Rouge
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Gonzales
70
Your Score
69
Area Score
Baton Rouge
55
Your Score
55
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Gonzales, LA · Baton Rouge, LA · How this is calculated: methodology