Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 Lubbock leads 14 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
258,190
New Orleans
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1
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.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($181,600 vs $281,500)
43% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,618 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
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)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 55°F
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lubbock by $7,618/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
Lubbock
Median Income
$7,618
$58,734 vs $51,116/yr
Lubbock
Violent Crime
43% lower
821.0 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$100k less
$181,600 vs $281,500
Lubbock
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.9 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 91.1 |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 ✓ Lower | $281,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 88.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 49.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 14 of 23 categories. Lubbock 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 Lubbock to New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $281,500 median home), income ($58,734 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and New Orleans, LA are about 742 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.