Baton Rouge city, Louisiana Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Baton Rouge city is a major urban center located in Louisiana. The total population is 223,699. It ranks as the 2nd most populous out of 487 cities and towns in Louisiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Baton Rouge city is 31.8 years. This is 16% lower than the state median of 37.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Baton Rouge city is $49,944. This is 17% lower than the state median of $60,023. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 36% lower. The poverty rate stands at 25.0%. This is 32% higher than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 9.0%. This is 43% higher than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $224,500. Housing costs are 8% higher than the state median of $208,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.5x. 46.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% lower than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Baton Rouge city is Black or African American, making up 50.9% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 34.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (50.9% vs 30.8%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (3.6% vs 1.7%).

Education

35.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Baton Rouge city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 35% higher than the state rate of 26.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.5%. Notably, 15.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Baton Rouge city, Louisiana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Louisiana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 487 Census-designated places in Louisiana. For official data, visit data.census.gov.