Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
New Orleans
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408
Portland
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($281,500 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $368/mo less ($1,162 vs $1,530)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $34,760/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%)
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $34,760 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than New Orleans
Key Differences at a Glance
New Orleans
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Home Value
$242k less
$281,500 vs $523,100
New Orleans
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$34,760
$85,876 vs $51,116/yr
Portland
Violent Crime
50% lower
720.1 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Portland
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 219⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 44.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. New Orleans wins 11 and Portland wins 11. 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $523,100 median home), income ($51,116 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and Portland, OR are about 2,061 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.