Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 McAllen leads 15 of 22 categories
McAllen
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
New Orleans
Louisiana
7
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.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $123k less ($158,700 vs $281,500)
90% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $207/mo less ($955 vs $1,162)
Households earn $5,210 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
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)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 98°F
Cons
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 5.4%)
Median income trails McAllen by $5,210/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 91.1 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$5,210
$56,326 vs $51,116/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
90% lower
150.0 vs 1444.1 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$123k less
$158,700 vs $281,500
McAllen
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.4% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 91.1 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $281,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 88.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 61.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 49.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McAllen leads 15 of 22 categories. McAllen wins 15 and New Orleans wins 7. 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 McAllen to New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $281,500 median home), income ($56,326 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and New Orleans, LA are about 571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.