Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 17 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
New Orleans
Louisiana
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
18% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $10,387 more per year on average
Rent averages $148/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,162)
Homes cost $36k less ($246,000 vs $281,500)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 52°F
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Albuquerque by $10,387/yr
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Median Income
$10,387
$61,503 vs $51,116/yr
Albuquerque
Violent Crime
18% lower
1181.8 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$36k less
$246,000 vs $281,500
Albuquerque
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 90.6°F
New Orleans
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $281,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 88.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 380,408 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 49.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 17 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 17 and New Orleans wins 6. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $281,500 median home), income ($61,503 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and New Orleans, LA are about 1,032 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.