What’s the best part of Baton Rouge?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Baton Rouge are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Baton Rouge neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to Louisiana and Baton Rouge is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Baton Rouge for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Bernard Terrace looks to be the best Baton Rouge neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Baton Rouge that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Baton Rouge.
For more Louisiana reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Louisiana
- Cheapest Places To Live In Louisiana
- Most Dangerous Places In Louisiana
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Baton Rouge
1. Bernard Terrace
Population: 3,058
Median Home Value: $406,314 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $70,337 (Sixth best)
More on Bernard Terrace: Real Estate
2. Highland Farms
Population: 3,731
Median Home Value: $80,471 (33rd best)
Median Income: $19,239 (42nd best)
More on Highland Farms: Real Estate
3. Louisiana State University
Population: 8,323
Median Home Value: $364,874 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $28,773 (28th best)
More on Louisiana State University: Real Estate
4. North Baton Rouge
Population: 44,129
Median Home Value: $110,269 (30th best)
Median Income: $30,140 (26th best)
More on North Baton Rouge: Real Estate
5. Istrouma
Population: 9,020
Median Home Value: $69,759 (35th best)
Median Income: $27,649 (32nd best)
More on Istrouma: Real Estate
6. Midtown
Population: 38,225
Median Home Value: $192,794 (15th best)
Median Income: $48,085 (18th best)
More on Midtown: Real Estate
7. North Gate
Population: 356
Median Home Value: $323,750 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $9,612 (43rd best)
More on North Gate: Real Estate
8. Steele Place
Population: 1,245
Median Home Value: $238,927 (13th best)
Median Income: $66,894 (Eighth best)
More on Steele Place: Real Estate
9. Ogden Park
Population: 2,251
Median Home Value: $223,084 (14th best)
Median Income: $44,692 (20th best)
More on Ogden Park: Real Estate
10. Dayton
Population: 2,911
Median Home Value: $45,866 (43rd best)
Median Income: $25,377 (36th best)
More on Dayton: Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Baton Rouge, LA Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Baton Rouge, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 43 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Baton Rouge.” We’re lookin’ at you, Bernard Terrace.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Baton Rouge, Louisiana has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Baton Rouge.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Baton Rouge
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Baton Rouge where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Baton Rouge are Bernard Terrace, Highland Farms, Louisiana State University, North Baton Rouge, Istrouma, Midtown, North Gate, Steele Place, Ogden Park, and Dayton.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Baton Rouge aren’t all good. Valley Park takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Baton Rouge.
The worst neighborhoods in Baton Rouge are Valley Park, Southmoor, Greenville Addition, Goodwood Homesites, and Howell Park.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more Louisiana reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Baton Rouge For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bernard Terrace | 3,058 | $406,314 | $70,337 |
| 2 | Highland Farms | 3,731 | $80,471 | $19,239 |
| 3 | Louisiana State University | 8,323 | $364,874 | $28,773 |
| 4 | North Baton Rouge | 44,129 | $110,269 | $30,140 |
| 5 | Istrouma | 9,020 | $69,759 | $27,649 |
| 6 | Midtown | 38,225 | $192,794 | $48,085 |
| 7 | North Gate | 356 | $323,750 | $9,612 |
| 8 | Steele Place | 1,245 | $238,927 | $66,894 |
| 9 | Ogden Park | 2,251 | $223,084 | $44,692 |
| 10 | Dayton | 2,911 | $45,866 | $25,377 |
| 11 | Scotlandville | 11,217 | $94,549 | $26,450 |
| 12 | The Garden District | 8,146 | $267,110 | $50,367 |
| 13 | Melrose Place East | 3,974 | $121,959 | $35,774 |
| 14 | Greenville Extension | 2,148 | $52,428 | $59,445 |
| 15 | The Bottom | 3,957 | $144,564 | $20,360 |
| 16 | Brookstown | 4,597 | $73,639 | $26,519 |
| 17 | Villa Del Rey | 3,053 | $183,782 | $44,792 |
| 18 | Scotlandville Heights | 1,225 | $101,496 | $22,356 |
| 19 | Lake Sherwood Acres | 2,738 | $310,349 | $61,606 |
| 20 | Contana Mall | 514 | $157,898 | $41,396 |
| 21 | Bocage | 619 | $1,047,849 | $92,642 |
| 22 | Highland | 12,777 | $329,145 | $72,618 |
| 23 | Sherwood | 14,728 | $171,336 | $52,862 |
| 24 | Melrose Place | 3,312 | $68,779 | $29,302 |
| 25 | Cedarcrest | 1,481 | $187,481 | $73,854 |
| 26 | Jefferson Place | 811 | $1,047,849 | $96,215 |
| 27 | Old South Baton Rouge | 9,422 | $133,404 | $32,275 |
| 28 | Fruit Town | 480 | $49,199 | $27,986 |
| 29 | Citiplace | 179 | $706,212 | $71,593 |
| 30 | Broadmoor | 7,420 | $175,175 | $64,739 |
| 31 | Victoria Gardens | 2,489 | $114,660 | $23,658 |
| 32 | Downtown Baton Rouge | 2,739 | $48,744 | $28,393 |
| 33 | Beauregard Town | 1,121 | $48,744 | $28,393 |
| 34 | Park Forest | 5,703 | $138,878 | $43,255 |
| 35 | Eden Park | 3,102 | $67,727 | $24,343 |
| 36 | Goodwood | 5,624 | $284,287 | $68,387 |
| 37 | Perkins | 2,003 | $156,727 | $65,319 |
| 38 | Southdowns | 5,281 | $343,736 | $65,860 |
| 39 | Howell Park | 2,035 | $120,365 | $26,922 |
| 40 | Goodwood Homesites | 2,848 | $143,672 | $49,710 |
| 41 | Greenville Addition | 708 | $59,254 | $20,866 |
| 42 | Southmoor | 683 | $284,287 | $43,245 |
| 43 | Valley Park | 1,476 | $127,485 | $58,378 |