Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 New Orleans leads 16 of 23 categories
New Orleans
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (8.4%)
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,264 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
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
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($96,900 vs $281,500)
77% less violent crime than New Orleans
Rent averages $220/mo less ($942 vs $1,162)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails New Orleans by $8,264/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 8.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
New Orleans
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 92.5 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Income
$8,264
$51,116 vs $42,852/yr
New Orleans
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
8.4% vs 11.3% unemployment
New Orleans
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 86.5°F
Reading
Violent Crime
77% lower
337.2 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$185k less
$96,900 vs $281,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 92.5 |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 49.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 16 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 16 and Reading wins 7. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $96,900 median home), income ($51,116 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and Reading, PA are about 1,061 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.