Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 New Orleans leads 13 of 23 categories
New Orleans
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Homes cost $312k less ($281,500 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $698/mo less ($1,162 vs $1,860)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $40,143/yr
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 5.6%)
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,143 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 61°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than New Orleans
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
New Orleans
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Home Value
$312k less
$281,500 vs $593,100
New Orleans
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 84.4°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$40,143
$91,259 vs $51,116/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
74% lower
374.4 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Norwalk
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 13 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 13 and Norwalk wins 10. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $593,100 median home), income ($51,116 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and Norwalk, CA are about 1,666 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.