Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 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
West Palm Beach
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Rent averages $452/mo less ($1,162 vs $1,614)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Homes cost $43k less ($281,500 vs $324,800)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $12,928/yr
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.2%)
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
60% less violent crime than New Orleans
Households earn $12,928 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 61°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than New Orleans
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Key Differences at a Glance
New Orleans
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Home Value
$43k less
$281,500 vs $324,800
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$12,928
$64,044 vs $51,116/yr
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
60% lower
575.8 vs 1444.1 per 100k
West Palm Beach
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 12 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 12 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $324,800 median home), income ($51,116 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 638 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.