Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaumont, TX
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 Beaumont leads 13 of 21 categories
Beaumont
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,745 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
299⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,573
New Orleans
Louisiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1
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.
Beaumont, TX
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($150,400 vs $281,500)
21% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.3%)
Rent averages $170/mo less ($992 vs $1,162)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Violent crime (1137.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3302.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New Orleans, LA
Pros
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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 5.3%)
Median income trails Beaumont by $2,629/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaumont
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 91.1 (100 = US avg)
Beaumont
Median Income
$2,629
$53,745 vs $51,116/yr
Beaumont
Violent Crime
21% lower
1137.3 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Beaumont
Median Home Value
$131k less
$150,400 vs $281,500
Beaumont
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaumont, TX | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 91.1 |
| Median Home Value | $150,400 ✓ Lower | $281,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $992 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,745 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 242⚠ High ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 299⚠ High ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.9:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.8% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 88.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BEAUMONT ISD | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.6°F ✓ Warmer | 61.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.1" | 60.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,573 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% ✓ Higher | 49.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaumont's cost of living index is 90.2 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Beaumont is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Beaumont leads 13 of 21 categories. Beaumont wins 13 and New Orleans wins 8. 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 Beaumont to New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,400 vs $281,500 median home), income ($53,745 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaumont, TX and New Orleans, LA are about 252 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.