Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Huntsville, AL
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 Huntsville leads 14 of 23 categories
Huntsville
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
215,025
New Orleans
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Huntsville, AL
Pros
67% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $16,758 more per year on average
Homes cost $45k less ($236,300 vs $281,500)
Rent averages $142/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,162)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 4% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 50°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntsville
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Huntsville by $16,758/yr
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Huntsville
Median Income
$16,758
$67,874 vs $51,116/yr
Huntsville
Violent Crime
67% lower
483.2 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$45k less
$236,300 vs $281,500
Huntsville
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
New Orleans
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 94.8 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Huntsville, AL | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $236,300 ✓ Lower | $281,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,874 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 88.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Huntsville City | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.3°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.2" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.4" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 215,025 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 49.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Huntsville's cost of living index is 94.8 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 14 of 23 categories. Huntsville 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 Huntsville to New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,300 vs $281,500 median home), income ($67,874 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Huntsville, AL and New Orleans, LA are about 382 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.