%
CapRateCity
Free cap rate calculators for every US market
← All comparisons

Baton Rouge vs Lafayette for Rental Property Investing

Side-by-side comparison of Baton Rouge, LA and Lafayette, LA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.

◉
Lafayette wins 6–1 across key metrics
Lafayette leads on cash flow (6.34% vs 4.95% cap rate)
Metric
Baton Rouge, LA
Lafayette, LA
Est. Cap Rate
4.95%
6.34%
Median Home Price
$240,000
$195,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
$1,330
1% Rule
0.56%
0.68%
GRM
14.8x
12.2x
Price / Income
5.0x
3.9x
Property Tax Rate
0.56%
0.52%
Vacancy Rate
6.5%
6.4%
Population Growth
0.5% / yr
0.6% / yr
Annual Appreciation
2.3%
2.2%
Population
224,149
126,000
Median Income
$48,200
$50,200

Baton Rouge vs Lafayette: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Lafayette has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 6.34% compared to Baton Rouge's 4.95%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $240,000 in Baton Rouge vs $195,000 in Lafayette, while rents come in at $1,350/mo and $1,330/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.

Growth & appreciation: Lafayette is growing faster at 0.6% annually vs Baton Rouge's 0.5%. Baton Rouge leads on home value appreciation at 2.3% per year.

Costs & risk: Property taxes are 0.56% in Baton Rouge vs 0.52% in Lafayette. Vacancy rates of 6.5% and 6.4% are mixed — Lafayette has the tighter rental market.

Entry point: Lafayette offers a lower entry at $195K vs Baton Rouge's $240K — a difference of $45K. With a 20% down payment, that's $39K vs $48K. Lafayette combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.

Bottom line: Lafayette edges out Baton Rouge on most key metrics. With a 6.34% cap rate, it offers solid cash flow potential. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Baton Rouge or Lafayette.

Sponsored · Want to analyze a specific property? DealCheck imports real listing data and runs the full analysis for you.
Try Free →
Baton Rouge, LA
4.95% cap rate · $240,000 median · $1,350/mo
Full analysis →
Lafayette, LA
6.34% cap rate · $195,000 median · $1,330/mo
Full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Baton Rouge or Lafayette better for rental investing?
Lafayette wins 6–1 across our 7 key metrics. Lafayette's 6.34% cap rate and $195K median price give it the edge overall.
What is the cap rate difference between Baton Rouge and Lafayette?
Baton Rouge has a 4.95% cap rate vs Lafayette's 6.34% — a difference of 1.39 percentage points. This is a significant gap that meaningfully impacts cash flow. For context, the national average is 3.81%.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Lafayette has lower property taxes at 0.52% vs 0.56%. On a $218K property, that's a difference of approximately $330/year in tax expense — money that goes directly to (or from) your cash flow.
Which city is growing faster?
Lafayette is growing at 0.6% annually vs Baton Rouge's 0.5%. Moderate growth provides stable demand. Lafayette's appreciation rate of 2.2% also trails on home value growth.

Explore More

vs Shreveport, LA →vs New Orleans, LA →vs New Orleans, LA →vs Lake Charles, LA →All Louisiana Markets →4% – 5% Cap Rate Cities →6% – 7% Cap Rate Cities →Best for Remote Investors →Best Mid-Size Cities →Best Cities Under $200K →
The CapRateCity Report
Weekly market analysis: highest cap rate cities, emerging markets, and deal breakdowns. Free, no spam.