Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Norman leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Norman
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 50°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norman by $11,733/yr
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.8%)
Norman, OK
Pros
82% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.8%)
Homes cost $57k less ($224,900 vs $281,500)
Households earn $11,733 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $158/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,162)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 91.1 on the COL index
Norman
Median Income
$11,733
$62,849 vs $51,116/yr
Norman
Violent Crime
82% lower
260.2 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$57k less
$224,900 vs $281,500
Norman
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 | $224,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $62,849 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 37.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 4.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 14 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 9 and Norman wins 14. 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $224,900 median home), income ($51,116 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and Norman, OK are about 560 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.