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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Baton Rouge, LA vs Lafayette, LA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Baton Rouge spends 46.2% more per capita than Lafayette ($13,858/person difference). Baton Rouge, LA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Baton Rouge, LA
Pop. 225,500
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Lafayette, LA
Pop. 121,706
D
44/100
Budget Balance54
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency2
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Baton Rouge
Lafayette
Total Spending
$9.9B
$3.7B
Spending / Capita
$43,886
$30,028
Total Revenue
$19.3B
$4.6B
Revenue / Capita
$85,687
$37,974
Total Debt
$0
$162.4M
Debt / Capita
$0
$1,334
Population
225,500
121,706
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Baton Rouge$1,820
Lafayette$615
Fire Protection
Baton Rouge$1,140
Lafayette$1,967
Highways & Roads
Baton Rouge$589
Lafayette$355
Parks & Recreation
Baton Rouge$758
Lafayette$1,923
Education
Baton Rouge$0
Lafayette$1,758
Health
Baton Rouge$2,058
Lafayette$851

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

Baton RougeLafayette
Sales Tax
$488
$1,778
Income Tax
$2,296
$1,580
Intergovernmental
$949
$956
Charges & Fees
$0
$2,527
Other
$7,610
$3,792

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

Baton RougeLafayette
Police
$1,820
$615
Fire Protection
$1,140
$1,967
Highways & Roads
$589
$355
Education
$0
$1,758
Public Welfare
$2,691
$1,573
Health
$2,058
$851
Hospitals
$4,729
$1,440
Parks & Recreation
$758
$1,923
Housing
$7,045
$8,621
Sewerage
$236
$0
Utilities
$2,413
$3,202
Interest on Debt
$1,735
$1,013
General Admin
$4,492
$0
Other
$14,181
$6,711
B
Baton Rouge, LA
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health
D
Lafayette, LA
Fiscal Health Score: 44/100
Below average fiscal health

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