What are the schools like in New Orleans, LA?

New Orleans is served primarily by Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed. The district operates several elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.8:1.

What is the median household income in New Orleans?

The median household income in New Orleans, LA is $51,116 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.4%.

What is the weather like in New Orleans, LA?

New Orleans has an average high temperature of 61.0°F in January and 90.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 60.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.1 inches.

New Orleans, LA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is New Orleans, LA affordable or expensive?

New Orleans's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means New Orleans is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $281,500 and the median rent is $1,162 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in New Orleans, LA?

New Orleans has a violent crime rate of 1444.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4640.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is New Orleans, LA a Good Place to Live?

New Orleans is a large city of 380,408 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $51,116 and a 8.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: New Orleans stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether New Orleans is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All New Orleans city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 91.1

New Orleans's overall cost of living index is 91.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in New Orleans costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	New Orleans, LA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$281,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,162	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	49.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,116	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

New Orleans's violent crime rate is 1444.1 per 100,000 residents — 280% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1444.1 /100k

Property Crime

4640.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

New Orleans is served primarily by Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	New Orleans, LA	National Avg
School District	Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	40.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

New Orleans sees average highs of 61.0°F in January and 90.6°F in July, with 60.1 inches of annual precipitation and 0.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	New Orleans, LA
Average High — January	61.0°F
Average High — July	90.6°F
Annual Precipitation	60.1"
Annual Snowfall	0.1"

Demographics

Metric	New Orleans, LA	National Avg
Population	380,408	—
Median Age	37.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	32.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	57.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.8%	18.9%
Asian	2.8%	6.3%
Under 18	19.6%	22.2%
65 and over	15.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Chalmette, LA 8 mi Arabi, LA 8 mi Meraux, LA 9 mi Violet, LA 11 mi Terrytown, LA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in New Orleans

New Orleans, LA is covered by 20 ZIP codes:

70129 70126 70131 70124 70122 70117 70127 70114 70128 70118 70119 70115 70125 70130 70116 70112 70113 70148 70139 70163

New Orleans vs Other Cities

New Orleans, LA vs Chalmette, LA New Orleans, LA vs Arabi, LA New Orleans, LA vs Meraux, LA New Orleans, LA vs Violet, LA New Orleans, LA vs Terrytown, LA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is New Orleans, LA affordable or expensive?

New Orleans's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes New Orleans roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $281,500 and median rent is $1,162/month.

What is the crime rate in New Orleans, LA?

New Orleans's violent crime rate is 1444.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4640.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in New Orleans?

Public schools in New Orleans are operated by Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed. The district has several elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1. 40.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is New Orleans, LA a good place to live?

New Orleans, LA has a population of 380,408, a median household income of $51,116, and an unemployment rate of 8.4%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in New Orleans?

New Orleans averages 61.0°F in January and 90.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 60.1 inches with about 0.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in New Orleans?

New Orleans, LA is covered by 20 ZIP codes: 70129, 70126, 70131, 70124, 70122, 70117, 70127, 70114, 70128, 70118, 70119, 70115, 70125, 70130, 70116, 70112, 70113, 70148, 70139, 70163.

What is the population of New Orleans?

The population of New Orleans, Louisiana is 380,408 with a median age of 37.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in New Orleans?

Key numbers for living in New Orleans: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $281,500, median household income $51,116, crime index 316 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare New Orleans side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.