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Baker vs Brownfields

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: trails (3.5× in Brownfields) and property tax bill (+72% in Brownfields).

B ×
Baker, LAOne of the healthiest townsLouisiana · 12,253 people
×
Brownfields, LAAn outdoors townLouisiana · 4,261 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

BakerOne of the healthiest towns
Health94% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Outdoors#43 most conserved land in LA0.2 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves Housing$187K typical home14% below the LA typical home All about Baker →
BrownfieldsAn outdoors town
Outdoors#15 most conserved land in LA0.7 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves Health97% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 67%of LA districts All about Brownfields →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails3.5×
Brownfields has more miles of trail
Brownfields 0.7 miBaker 0.2 mi
Property tax bill+72%
Tax bills are bigger in Brownfields
Brownfields $1,207Baker $703
Jobs per worker3×
Baker is more of a job hub
Baker 0.48Brownfields 0.16
Home values+31%
Homes cost more in Brownfields
Brownfields $207,200Baker $157,900
Size2.9×
Baker is the bigger place
Baker 12,253Brownfields 4,261
Growth since 2010+5.7 pts
Brownfields has grown faster since 2010
Brownfields -4.7%Baker -10.4%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Baker places higher on 13 of 19 LA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Louisiana ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
CBakerSafer than 27% of U.S. towns –BrownfieldsNot graded
Schools
C−BakerBetter than 16% of districts in the state B+BrownfieldsBetter than 67% of districts in the state
Health
DBakerHealthier than 6% of U.S. towns D−BrownfieldsHealthier than 3% of U.S. towns
13Baker
6Brownfields

Lists won, of 19 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Cheapest rentCost of living · 161 towns #85#159 Best schoolsSchools · 153 towns #137#82 Lowest property taxCost of living · 159 towns #70#116 Most affordableCost of living · 163 towns #57#102 Fastest growingGrowth · 163 towns #137#96 Shortest commuteGetting around · 163 towns #76#112 Most conserved landOutdoors · 147 towns #43#15 Fewest smokersHealth · 163 towns #72#103

Left end = #1 in Louisiana. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Baker’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Baker$1,050/mo
Typical home $187K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.45% · or rent about $993/mo · Housing →
Brownfields$1,190/mo
Typical home $207K (Census) · tax rate 0.58% · or rent about $1,651/mo · Housing →

The difference: $140 a month, about $1,700 a year, between Brownfields and Baker.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Where they are

Baker and Brownfields share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

BakerBrownfieldsBakerBrownfields
Baker ↔ Brownfields3.5 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
38 Brownfields residents work in Baker (1.8% of its workers)
Work & commute in Brownfields →
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
BakerBrownfields
Snow a year0″0″
January low—42°F
July high—92°F
Growing season (days)—276d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)86th79th
Outdoors & history
BakerBrownfields
Trails0 mi1 mi
Conserved land1.8%3.3%
National Register places5—
Archive photos10—
Famous people born here8—
Community
BakerBrownfields
Library hours a week66 hrs—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

BakerBrownfields
People
Population 12,253Highest 4,261Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -10.4%Lowest LA: +2.7% -4.7%Highest LA: +2.7%
Median age 33.5±3Lowest 12% below LA 40.4±8.3Highest 6% above LA
Brownfields and Baker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 26.3%±4.6Highest LA: 23.5% 19.1%±6.2Lowest LA: 23.5%
Baker and Brownfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 11.3%±2Lowest LA: 16.7% 16.4%±2.8Highest LA: 16.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 20.6%Highest LA: 27% 19.7%Lowest LA: 27%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.8%±1.9Highest LA: 5.8% 3.4%±2.8Lowest LA: 5.8%
Baker and Brownfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $54,750±$12kLowest 10% below LA $65,929±$26kHighest 9% above LA
Brownfields and Baker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $157,900±$10kLowest 27% below LA $207,200±$21kHighest 4% below LA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $993±$301Lowest 7% below LA $1,651±$1kHighest 55% above LA
Brownfields and Baker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $703Lowest 40% below LA $1,207Highest about the LA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 47.4%±16.9Highest LA: 54.8% 30.5%±12.5Lowest LA: 54.8%
Baker and Brownfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 29.8%Highest LA: 18.9% 24.3%Lowest LA: 18.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 69.9%Lowest LA: 67.4% 74.4%Highest LA: 67.4%
Typical home builtmedian year 1979Highest 4 yrs older than LA 1977Lowest 6 yrs older than LA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 24 minLowest 5% below LA 27 minHighest 4% above LA
Work from home 3.8%±2Highest LA: 8.1% 2.7%±3Lowest LA: 8.1%
Baker and Brownfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 3.7%Highest 0.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 11.8 miHighest 9.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.48Highest 0.16Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Baton Rouge (39%)Baton Rouge (44%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Brownfields2% work in Baker
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.8%Lowest 3.3%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.2 miLowest 0.7 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.2 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Highest 2Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 41.4Highest 28.1Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #137 of 153 in LA#82 of 153 in LA
School district City of Baker School District · GEO Prep BakerEast Baton Rouge Parish
High school in town Baker High SchoolNone in town
Students per teacherat that high school 18.0 —
Louisiana average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Baker neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Baker’s Town Square.

Brownfields neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Brownfields’s Town Square.

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Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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