Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 New Orleans leads 13 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,528 ✓ 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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
49% less violent crime than New Orleans
Households earn $11,885 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than New Orleans
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New Orleans, LA
Pros
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $40k less ($281,500 vs $321,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (8.4%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 98°F
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fresno by $11,885/yr
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Income
$11,885
$63,001 vs $51,116/yr
Fresno
Violent Crime
49% lower
735.5 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Fresno
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 90.6°F
New Orleans
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Home Value
$40k less
$281,500 vs $321,800
New Orleans
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
8.4% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $281,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $1,162 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 88.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 380,408 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 49.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 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. Fresno 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 Fresno to New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $281,500 median home), income ($63,001 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and New Orleans, LA are about 1,776 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.