Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 New Orleans leads 14 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
New Orleans
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $62,063 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than New Orleans
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Homes cost $374k less ($281,500 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $821/mo less ($1,162 vs $1,983)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $62,063/yr
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$62,063
$113,179 vs $51,116/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
85% lower
219.1 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
New Orleans
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Home Value
$374k less
$281,500 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $281,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,162 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 88.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 49.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 14 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 9 and New Orleans wins 14. 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 Alexandria to New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $281,500 median home), income ($113,179 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and New Orleans, LA are about 949 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.