Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 New Orleans leads 13 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
New Orleans
Louisiana
13
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $34,737 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($281,500 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $503/mo less ($1,162 vs $1,665)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $34,737/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 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$34,737
$85,853 vs $51,116/yr
Denver
Violent Crime
31% lower
993.0 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Denver
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.4% unemployment
New Orleans
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Home Value
$259k less
$281,500 vs $540,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $281,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,162 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 88.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 380,408 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 49.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 13 of 23 categories. Denver wins 10 and New Orleans wins 13. 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 Denver to New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $281,500 median home), income ($85,853 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and New Orleans, LA are about 1,078 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.