Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 New Orleans leads 12 of 23 categories
New Orleans
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Norfolk
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
236,973
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national 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 50°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Norfolk
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norfolk by $9,882/yr
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.7%)
Norfolk, VA
Pros
67% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.7%)
Households earn $9,882 more per year on average
Homes cost $27k less ($254,200 vs $281,500)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than New Orleans
Key Differences at a Glance
New Orleans
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Median Income
$9,882
$60,998 vs $51,116/yr
Norfolk
Violent Crime
67% lower
469.5 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$27k less
$254,200 vs $281,500
Norfolk
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.7% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 ✓ Lower | $1,188 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $60,998 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 45.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 236,973 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 12 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 12 and Norfolk 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 New Orleans to Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $254,200 median home), income ($51,116 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and Norfolk, VA are about 919 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.