Eviction Risk in West Merrydale , Baton Rouge
2 census tracts · pop 12,329 · pop-weighted composite 5.2/10 · range 5.0–5.5
West Merrydale is a black (non-hispanic) neighborhood in Baton Rouge with 2 census tracts and a population of 12,329 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 5.2/10 (Moderate tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent burden + poverty. 58% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 28% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Median gross rent of $754/month sits 29% lower than the Baton Rouge citywide median ($1,067).
West Merrydale vs. parent city, state, and U.S.
Composite landlord eviction-risk score (0–10 scale).
Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk
Same county, closest by composite score.
West Merrydale vs Baton Rouge
How this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average.
Racial & ethnic composition
Black (non-Hispanic) Neighborhood — 13,026 residents across all tracts in West Merrydale. Source: ACS 5-year 2023 (B03002).
- Hispanic / Latino 0.7%
- White (non-Hispanic) 1.7%
- Black (non-Hispanic) 95.8%
- Asian (non-Hispanic) 0.2%
- Other / Multiracial 1.6%
2 tracts in West Merrydale
Ranked highest-risk first. Click for per-tract detail.
| Tract | Score | Pop | Rent burden | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22033000200 | 5.5 | 5,896 | 59% | $653 |
| 22033003400 | 5.0 | 6,433 | 57% | $847 |
CDC SVI percentile: 97
Pop-weighted across 2 tracts. Higher = more vulnerable to disaster, displacement, and rent shocks. Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022.
Eviction-adjacent indicators in West Merrydale
Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.
- 37.2%Housing insecurity
- 31.3%Utility shutoff threat
- 50.9%Food insecurity
- 53.0%SNAP enrollment
- 14.0%No health insurance
- 51.0%Any disability
About West Merrydale
What is the eviction-risk score for West Merrydale?
West Merrydale scores 5.2/10 (Moderate tier) across 2 census tracts. The pop-weighted composite blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent burden and poverty signals.
How does West Merrydale compare to Baton Rouge overall?
West Merrydale scores 1.2 points higher than Baton Rouge overall (4.0/10). Rent burden: 58% vs 35% citywide. Median rent: $754 vs $1,067.
What is the median rent in West Merrydale?
Median gross rent in West Merrydale is $754/month (pop-weighted across 2 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 58% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What percentage of West Merrydale residents are renters?
64% of West Merrydale households are renter-occupied (vs 52% in Baton Rouge). The neighborhood has 12,329 residents.
Is West Merrydale a high social-vulnerability area?
West Merrydale sits in the 97th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (highly vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.