Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 New Orleans leads 15 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
New Orleans
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
380,408
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $142k less ($139,600 vs $281,500)
Rent averages $112/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,162)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails New Orleans by $3,026/yr
New Orleans, LA
Pros
42% less violent crime than Memphis
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 51°F
Households earn $3,026 more per year on average
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Median Home Value
$142k less
$139,600 vs $281,500
New Orleans
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Income
$3,026
$51,116 vs $48,090/yr
New Orleans
Violent Crime
42% lower
1444.1 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $281,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $51,116 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 316⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 380⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 88.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 380,408 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 49.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 15 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 7 and New Orleans wins 15. 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 Memphis to New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $281,500 median home), income ($48,090 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and New Orleans, LA are about 349 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.