Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 14 of 23 categories
New Orleans
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Rent averages $460/mo less ($1,162 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Homes cost $30k less ($281,500 vs $311,100)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $60,007/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 3.2%)
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $60,007 more per year on average
93% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Cost of living runs 9% higher than New Orleans
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
New Orleans
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Home Value
$30k less
$281,500 vs $311,100
Pearland
Median Income
$60,007
$111,123 vs $51,116/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
93% lower
95.9 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 ✓ Lower | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 53.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 14 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 9 and Pearland 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $311,100 median home), income ($51,116 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and Pearland, TX are about 325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.