Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 New Orleans leads 12 of 23 categories
New Orleans
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Homes cost $336k less ($281,500 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $1000/mo less ($1,162 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $60,601/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 5.4%)
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,601 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than New Orleans
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
New Orleans
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Home Value
$336k less
$281,500 vs $617,300
Tracy
Median Income
$60,601
$111,717 vs $51,116/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
79% lower
301.4 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 12 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 12 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $617,300 median home), income ($51,116 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and Tracy, CA are about 1,874 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.