Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 New Orleans leads 13 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
171,465
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
42% less violent crime than New Orleans
Households earn $20,251 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (7.5%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than New Orleans
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Rent averages $414/mo less ($1,162 vs $1,576)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Homes cost $87k less ($281,500 vs $368,800)
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails Lancaster by $20,251/yr
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 7.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$20,251
$71,367 vs $51,116/yr
Lancaster
Violent Crime
42% lower
834.7 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Lancaster
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Lancaster
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 90.6°F
New Orleans
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Home Value
$87k less
$281,500 vs $368,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $281,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,162 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 88.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 49.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 13 of 23 categories. Lancaster 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 Lancaster to New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $281,500 median home), income ($71,367 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and New Orleans, LA are about 1,673 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.