Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 Indianapolis leads 12 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$59,110 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
New Orleans
Louisiana
11
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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($184,600 vs $281,500)
39% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $7,994 more per year on average
Rent averages $116/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,162)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Indianapolis
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Indianapolis by $7,994/yr
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Median Income
$7,994
$59,110 vs $51,116/yr
Indianapolis
Violent Crime
39% lower
877.9 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$97k less
$184,600 vs $281,500
Indianapolis
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
New Orleans
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $281,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 88.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 380,408 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 49.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Indianapolis leads 12 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 12 and New Orleans wins 11. 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 Indianapolis to New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $281,500 median home), income ($59,110 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and New Orleans, LA are about 705 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.