City comparison
Yes. Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Arlington and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,470 in Arlington.
Safety is where Arlington and New Orleans split most clearly. Arlington scores 218 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,470 in Arlington and $1,251 in New Orleans.
This is a genuine split. Arlington wins on the job market and safety and New Orleans wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Arlington has rougher pockets and New Orleans has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Arlington and New Orleans are 457 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,470 a month in Arlington to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $219 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $75,171 in Arlington to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $18,540 (25%).
The crime index goes from 132 in Arlington to 350 in New Orleans, up 218 points (165%).
The move
New Orleans and Arlington are 457 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,470 a month in Arlington, up $219 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $75,171 in Arlington, up $18,540 (33%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 132 in Arlington, down 218 points (62%).
Arlington, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Arlington and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 15% cheaper than Arlington
Arlington
$1,470/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,470 in Arlington, so New Orleans is 15% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,628, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. New Orleans still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Arlington.
Planning to buy in Arlington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
33% higher
Arlington's median income is 33% higher than New Orleans
Arlington
Winner$75,171
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $75,171 in Arlington versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 33% higher in Arlington (about $18,540 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Arlington is the stronger labor market on paper. New Orleans can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
62% lower crime
Arlington's crime index is 62% lower than New Orleans
Arlington
Winner132 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Arlington's crime index is 132 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% lower in Arlington. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Arlington is the easier city. New Orleans can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Arlington and New Orleans are about even on typical weather.
Arlington
67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Arlington averages about 67°F (74°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Arlington sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Arlington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 33% higher here ($75,171). Start with Arlington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Arlington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 62% lower than New Orleans (132 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to New Orleans
New Orleans is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,251 a month. Choose New Orleans if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Arlington leads on safety (52/100 vs 22/100 in New Orleans). Typical rent is $1,470 in Arlington and $1,251 in New Orleans; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Arlington's $1,470, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,470 in Arlington.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Arlington; New Orleans only makes sense when you have walked the New Orleans ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,251 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Arlington when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Arlington and New Orleans, plus other cities in TX and LA.
