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Baton Rouge serves up the best of Cajun Country! The capital of Louisiana sits on the Mississippi River, and is home to many historic landmarks.

French for “red stick,” Baton Rouge has a long history, starting out as a hot spot for farming peppers, but it has more to offer than a myopic view of the past and agriculture. If you love the idea of living in a vibrant city that gives you easy access to Louisiana’s beautiful scenery and plenty of fun things to do, you’ll love life in Baton Rouge.

Baton Rouge Area Communities

Downtown

If you want to stay in the mix in Baton Rouge, the perfect neighborhood for you is the Downtown district. This vibrant space gives you southern city living at its finest, while still maintaining a unique community atmosphere.

Spanish Town

In the heart of the historic spaces of Baton Rouge is Spanish Town, a lovely neighborhood, perfect for history and architecture lovers. Surround yourself with historic homes, beautiful views of the Mississippi, and iconic heritage oaks.

Garden District

Nestled comfortably in Baton Rouge’s Mid-City sits the Garden District. This historically designated space in the city welcomes newcomers who love the idea of making their home surrounded by Baton Rouge’s living history.

LSU/Lakeshore

Living in a college town is vibrant and exciting, even if you aren’t enrolled. The LSU/Lakeshore district lets you enjoy a buzzing atmosphere that never slows down.

Inniswold

Baton Rouge residents looking for a true neighborhood atmosphere should start their home search in Inniswold. This East Baton Rouge Parrish gives you plenty of peace and quiet, while still providing easy access to the city.

University Club

The University Club neighborhood lets residents of Baton Rouge enjoy the nonstop buzz from the university, while still providing them with a luxurious retreat to call home.

Top Baton Rouge School Districts

Finding the right school district for your children has a major impact on their quality of life and path to success. These are the top rated school districts in the Baton Rouge Area; if you want to delve deeper into school records and standards for the State of Louisiana, NewHomeSource has a guide to all the resources you need to find the right school for your child.

Best private K-12 school: Episcopal School of Baton Rouge

Niche.com gives the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge an overall score of A+. It excels in academics, teachers, college prep, clubs and activities, sports, and diversity. Tuition is about $19,213 per year. Episcopal is a Newsweek Top 500 STEM High School and has been recognized in Baton Rouge Parents Magazine’s Family Favorites survey.

Best public elementary school: Zachary Elementary School

Zachary Elementary School has an A average in academics, teachers, and diversity. It has 778 students in grades 3-4 with a student-teacher ratio of 18 to 1. According to state test scores, 46% of students are at least proficient in math and 61% in reading.

Best public middle school: Northwestern Middle School

Niche.com gives Northwestern Middle School an A average in academics, diversity, and teachers.  It has 878 students in grades 7-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1. According to state test scores, 41% of students are at least proficient in math and 68% in reading.

Best public high school: Baton Rouge Magnet High School

Baton Rouge Magnet High School ranks highly for academics, teachers, diversity, college prep, clubs and activities, and administration. It is average in sports, food, and resources and facilities. It has 1,562 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 19 to 1. According to state test scores, 82% of students are at least proficient in math and 86% in reading.

Top Employers in Baton Rouge

Petrol/chemical companies are the largest employers in Baton Rouge.

BASF Wyandotte Corporation

BASF Wyandotte Corporation is the largest employer in the Baton Rouge Area, providing crucial jobs to all aspects of sustainable chemical manufacturing.

Baton Rouge General Medical Center

The Baton Rouge General Medical Center is one of the largest employers in the area, providing a wide range of jobs for people in the health care sector

Dow Chemical Company

Dow Chemical Company is another major chemical processing corporation that provides a large swath of jobs in the Baton Rouge Area.

Entergy/Gulf States Utilities

Entergy/Gulf State Utilities provides electricity and power generation to the people of the Gulf Coast, while also providing many jobs for the people of Baton Rouge.

Exxon Mobil

Exxon Mobil is the fifth largest employer in the Baton Rouge Area, representing one of the largest oil companies working in and around the city.

Savannah Area Museums

Louisiana Art and Science Museum

The Louisiana Art and Science Museum has something for everyone. This museum’s extensive collection makes it easy to explore art and science in one beautiful location. The LASM also offers nightly family stargazing for a unique, fun filled experience.

Odell S. Williams Now And Then African-American Museum

The Now and Then African-American Museum brings history to life in a unique way. This vibrant museum combines amazing art and the unique stories of people of color to weave the threads of our history with the hopes for our future.

CARTE Museum

The CARTE Museum is solely dedicated to the collection and preservation of historic maps and atlases. You can learn more about cartography at the CARTE Museum and you can admire their beautiful collections of maps. We won’t tell if you leave more thankful for the GPS than ever.

Louisiana Museum of Natural History

LSU helps run the Louisiana Museum of Natural History, showcasing an amazing collection for visitors. You can learn about almost anything at the LMNH, ranging from the history of costume design to Palynology- the study of organic particles.

Historic Houses

Baton Rouge is one of the oldest cities in the South, and has a number of beautiful historic houses that you can tour in Louisiana’s iconic southern style. These beautiful homes can get you connected to the history of your home.

Great Parks in the Baton Rouge Area

Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center

With over 100 acres of swamp for you to explore, the  Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center is the perfect way to get connected with Louisiana’s beautiful natural setting. You can enjoy hiking and exhibitions that teach you about this amazing piece of nature.

City Brooks Park

The City Brooks Park provides Baton Rouge residents a beautiful greenspace. You can head over to City Brooks Park with your furry family members and take advantage of one of the best dog parks in the city.

Highland Road Community Park

The Highland Park Road Community Park has over 140 acres of public facilities available to the people of Baton Rouge. With great playgrounds and a wide range of sports fields and courts, you can enjoy socializing with your community while staying active.

Baton Rouge Sports Teams

You Can Root On (Or Pretend You Don’t Care About)

Unsurprisingly, LSU dominates the Baton Rouge sports scene. The hometown heroes can fill the stands at Tiger Stadium with fans from almost everywhere, cheering on football, baseball, and just about everything in between.

You can enjoy good times with your loved ones rooting your favorite sports that represent the LSU Tigers!

Living in Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge serves up a comfortable southern climate. Beautiful views of mossy oaks and the Mississippi River ensure that you can enjoy fun times on the water all year long. Picturesque streets lined with heritage oaks offer up beautiful promenades, perfect for strolling- or your Instagram.

With numerous historic homes, and the old governor’s mansion, Baton Rouge has many beautiful places for you to explore.

Baton Rouge Housing Trends

With a great blend of hip downtown neighborhoods and family-friendly suburbs, there are many housing options depending on the kind of lifestyle you are looking for.

Housing costs are rising over time, but there are still a variety of options depending on your price point, as there are many suburbs and cities surrounding Baton Rouge.

Median Home Price: $305,000

The median home price in Baton Rouge is lower than the national median home price, making it a wonderful place to settle down, if you’re a first time homebuyer, or an experienced home shopper looking for the perfect retirement destination.

Growing Communities in North Baton Rouge

Northern Baton Rouge is home to some of the fastest growing towns in the state. Zachary, LA has numerous new home communities, perfect for future Baton Rouge residents who want easy access to the city, while still enjoying a serene sanctuary to call home.

Growing Communities in South Baton Rouge

Southern Baton Rouge also has great new home communities for residents. Gonzales, LA is one of the bigger towns in South Baton Rouge with a number of new houses available for sale. When you build your home in Gonzales, you can make your mark on a growing community.

Growing Communities in Central Baton Rouge

If you want to build a new home, while still living close to Downtown Baton Rouge towns like Brusly, LA give you everything on your home wish list. With a strait shot to Tiger Stadium and the heart of Baton Rouge, you’ll love life here.

Amazing Baton Rouge Restaurants

Good eats are easily found in Baton Rouge. Southern fusion and comfort food are all on the menu in Cajun Country.

Parrain’s Seafood Restaurant

Chow down on fresh caught seafood, served up in iconic Louisiana recipes. Sit out on the back porch and enjoy good eats and good times.

Jubans Restaurant & Bar

With an upscale take on Creole cooking, Juban’s Restaurant & Bar serves up an amazing series of dishes, with an equally amazing wine and cocktail menu.

Stroubes Seafood and Steaks

Chow down on an amazing steaks at Stroubes Seafood and Steaks. This delicious chop house has a comfortable lounge where you can unwind with great food and drinks.

Roux 61 Seafood & Grill

Roux 61 Seafood & Grill has all your favorite comfort food. If you want to stuff your face with yummy po’boys, catfish, and steak, head over to Roux 61 Seafood & Grill.

The Chimes

The Chimes is an easygoing hangout spot, with an unbeatable selection of global beers and drinks. If you’re in the mood for snacks, it has hearty bar fare too.

Great Attractions for Baton Rouge Stay-cations

The Baton Rouge Zoo

Animal lovers in Baton Rouge have a fabulous zoo to visit. With wild times incoming, you can take your whole family, or visit by yourself, to see some of the most beautiful creatures on the planet. The zoo also offers summer camps and special programming for additional fun learning experiences.

The Louisiana Old State Capitol

Touring the old Louisiana state capitol is a must do for Baton Rouge residents. The historic building is home to amazing architecture and amazing stories of your new home.

The Oxbow Rum Distillery

The Oxbow Rum Distillery is a great spot to tour and hang out. Enjoy good times with good friends at the Oxbow Rum Distillery, and discover your new favorite drink.

The Shaw Center for the Arts

The Shaw Center for the Arts is a luxurious theater, where you can enjoy live theater at its finest. When you want to catch a show in Baton Rouge, head over the Shaw Center for the Arts.

Riverfront Plaza

The Riverfront Plaza is a beautiful Baton Rouge premade along the Mississippi. You can head over to the riverfront with a your loved ones and a picnic basket for a lovely evening at a comfortable pace.

Shopping

Baton Rouge has a great mix of unique local shops and big-name stores, often found side by side in shopping areas. There’s plenty of opportunity to shop ‘til you drop in this city.

Mall of Louisiana

The Mall of Louisiana is a multi-story shopping experience, that even has the third largest indoor carousel. As the largest mall in the sate, you’ll be sure to fink your favorite spots for extensive retail therapy.

Red Stick Farmer Market

The Red Stick Farmers Market is one of the BREADA affiliated farmers markets in Baton Rouge. You can get farm fresh groceries, and support your local community at this weekly market.

Towne Center At Cedar Lodge

Towne Center At Cedar Lodge offers up a fun al fresco shopping experience for the people of Baton Rouge. This high end shopping experience features boutiques, fun dining spaces, and even convenient gyms.

Siegen Lane Marketplace

Siegen Lane Marketplace is a sprawling shopping center that has something for everyone. After you’re done shopping – or if you are waiting around while the person who drug you to the mall shops – you can head over to the Siegen Lane Marketplace putting green.

Places of Worship

Baton Rouge has numerous places of worship that represent a wide range of faiths and religions.

St. Joseph Cathedral

St. Joseph Cathedral is a historic Catholic church in Downtown Baton Rouge. Worshipers will be welcomed to a warm congregation in a beautiful and historic place of praise.

Unified Jewish Congregation of Baton Rouge

Unified Jewish Congregation of Baton Rouge is an inclusive Jewish community in the city. This welcoming home for all people believes in the power of people and their unique gifts.

Islamic Center of Baton Rouge Masjid Al-Rahman

The Islamic Center of Baton Rouge Masjid Al-Rahman offers a wide range of community services to the Muslim population of Baton Rouge.

Tam Bao Temple

The Tam Bao Temple and Meditation Center is one of the oldest Buddhist Temple in Louisiana. This temple serves the Buddhist population of Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and New Orleans.