Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 New Orleans leads 14 of 23 categories
New Orleans
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
146,134
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Households earn $7,532 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Syracuse
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
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($117,900 vs $281,500)
47% less violent crime than New Orleans
Rent averages $230/mo less ($932 vs $1,162)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New Orleans by $7,532/yr
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 128" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
New Orleans
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Income
$7,532
$51,116 vs $43,584/yr
New Orleans
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Violent Crime
47% lower
765.3 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$164k less
$117,900 vs $281,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 95.2 |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 202⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 14 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 14 and Syracuse wins 9. 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 Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $117,900 median home), income ($51,116 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and Syracuse, NY are about 1,176 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.