Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories
New Orleans
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Homes cost $700k less ($281,500 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $938/mo less ($1,162 vs $2,100)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $46,702/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 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,702 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 61°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than New Orleans
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
$700k less
$281,500 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Median Income
$46,702
$97,818 vs $51,116/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
67% lower
480.4 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Pasadena
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Pasadena, 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 | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 10 and Pasadena wins 13. 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $981,600 median home), income ($51,116 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and Pasadena, CA are about 1,669 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.