Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 El Paso leads 14 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
New Orleans
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1
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.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $122k less ($159,300 vs $281,500)
81% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.8%)
Rent averages $186/mo less ($976 vs $1,162)
Households earn $4,594 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
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 96°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 6.8%)
Median income trails El Paso by $4,594/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 91.1 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Median Income
$4,594
$55,710 vs $51,116/yr
El Paso
Violent Crime
81% lower
278.4 vs 1444.1 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$122k less
$159,300 vs $281,500
El Paso
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.8% vs 8.4% unemployment
El Paso
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 91.1 |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $281,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 88.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 380,408 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 49.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 14 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 14 and New Orleans wins 9. 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 El Paso to New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $281,500 median home), income ($55,710 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and New Orleans, LA are about 984 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.