What it's like to live in New Orleans
New Orleans is a large city in Louisiana with rent below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. New Orleans deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, a population that has been shrinking, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Shrinking population
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
How New Orleans compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to New Orleans
Based on New Orleans's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,502
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $50,040 a year
- 54% of New Orleans renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$63,140
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $31,570
- Homes cost 5.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 11% below US
$1,251/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,251 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $315,700. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $315,700 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 12% above US
4.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.8%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 253% above US
1361 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 5090/100k · New Orleans Police Department · 2023 data
Getting around▼ 13% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 49°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
9 hospitals
There are 9 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 18% above US
42% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 42% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
75 public schools inside the boundary
There are 75 public schools inside the boundary and 41 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park (11 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
New Orleans's strongest points are rent below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,251/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and college-educated professionals.
Other places near New Orleans
All Louisiana guides →Moving to Chalmette →
9 mi away · pop. 22,616
Rent $1,110/mo · Income $54,904
Compare with New Orleans →Moving to Terrytown →
13 mi away · pop. 24,726
Rent $1,135/mo · Income $51,718
Compare with New Orleans →Not sure New Orleans is the one?
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