Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke leads 16 of 23 categories
New Orleans
Louisiana
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 47°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
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.6%)
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $120k less ($162,000 vs $281,500)
57% less violent crime than New Orleans
Rent averages $245/mo less ($917 vs $1,162)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 91.1 on the COL index
Roanoke
Violent Crime
57% lower
620.4 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$120k less
$162,000 vs $281,500
Roanoke
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $51,523 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% | 52.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 16 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 7 and Roanoke wins 16. 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $162,000 median home), income ($51,116 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and Roanoke, VA are about 760 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.