Baton Rouge Ranked Among Worst State Capitals to Live In
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been identified as the fourth-worst state capital in the United States for quality of life, according to a new analysis by WalletHub. The city received an overall ranking of 47 out of 50 in the study, which evaluated state capitals based on five key categories: affordability, economic stability, quality of life, education, and health care.
While not the largest city in Louisiana – with a population between 224,000 and 227,470 – Baton Rouge remains a significant economic hub for the state. However, the WalletHub study reveals areas of concern. The city ranked 38th for affordability, 47th for economic well-being, 39th for quality of education and health, and 37th for overall quality of life.
The report highlighted particularly troubling statistics for Baton Rouge. The city ranked fourth highest in the percentage of its population living in poverty, third highest for its crime rate, and tied for the highest premature-death rate among the surveyed capitals.
WalletHub’s analysis considered 48 different measures to determine the rankings, ranging from the cost of living and crime rates to the quality of K-12 school systems. The study aimed to identify which state capitals offer the best living conditions for their residents.
In contrast to Baton Rouge’s challenges, Austin, Texas, topped the list as the best state capital to live in, citing its high median household income, strong business environment, and quality education system. Other top-ranked capitals included Raleigh, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Madison, Wisconsin; and Boise, Idaho.
The full list of ranked state capitals, according to WalletHub, is as follows:
- Austin, Texas
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Boise, Idaho
- St. Paul, Minnesota
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Bismarck, North Dakota
- Denver, Colorado
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Pierre, South Dakota
- Concord, New Hampshire
- Columbus, Ohio
- Montpelier, Vermont
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Annapolis, Maryland
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Richmond, Virginia
- Jefferson City, Missouri
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Charleston, West Virginia
- Albany, New York
- Helena, Montana
- Olympia, Washington
- Columbia, South Carolina
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Tallahassee, Florida
- Sacramento, California
- Springfield, Illinois
- Juneau, Alaska
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Cheyenne, Wyoming
- Salem, Oregon
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Topeka, Kansas
- Lansing, Michigan
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Carson City, Nevada
- Frankfort, Kentucky
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Montgomery, Alabama
- Dover, Delaware
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Trenton, New Jersey
- Augusta, Maine
- Jackson, Mississippi
The WalletHub study, released on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, provides a comprehensive look at the varying qualities of life across state capitals in the U.S.
