Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 15 of 23 categories
New Orleans
Louisiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Plano
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($281,500 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $537/mo less ($1,162 vs $1,699)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $54,563/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 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $54,563 more per year on average
90% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than New Orleans
Key Differences at a Glance
New Orleans
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Home Value
$131k less
$281,500 vs $412,500
Plano
Median Income
$54,563
$105,679 vs $51,116/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
90% lower
151.6 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.4% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 284,948 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 15 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 8 and Plano wins 15. 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $412,500 median home), income ($51,116 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and Plano, TX are about 451 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.