Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 Edinburg leads 15 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $122k less ($159,600 vs $281,500)
81% less violent crime than New Orleans
Rent averages $242/mo less ($920 vs $1,162)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (7.2%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
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)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
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 7.2%)
Median income trails Edinburg by $3,023/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 91.1 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Income
$3,023
$54,139 vs $51,116/yr
Edinburg
Violent Crime
81% lower
269.6 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$122k less
$159,600 vs $281,500
Edinburg
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Edinburg
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 91.1 |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $281,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 88.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 61.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 49.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 15 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 15 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 Edinburg to New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $281,500 median home), income ($54,139 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and New Orleans, LA are about 563 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.