Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock 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
Round Rock
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Rent averages $424/mo less ($1,162 vs $1,586)
Homes cost $56k less ($281,500 vs $337,500)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Round Rock
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Round Rock by $40,772/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 3.8%)
Round Rock, TX
Pros
Households earn $40,772 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $337,500
Cost of living runs 7% higher than New Orleans
Key Differences at a Glance
New Orleans
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Home Value
$56k less
$281,500 vs $337,500
Round Rock
Median Income
$40,772
$91,888 vs $51,116/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
91% lower
130.7 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Round Rock
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.4% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.6 |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 ✓ Lower | $337,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 92 ✓ 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 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 120,465 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 15 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 8 and Round Rock 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $337,500 median home), income ($51,116 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and Round Rock, TX are about 462 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.