City comparison
Yes. Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 248 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Aurora and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
The income gap between Aurora and New Orleans is significant: $88,368 median household versus $56,631. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,835 in Aurora and $1,251 in New Orleans.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans costs less and Aurora pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. New Orleans at $1,251 average has pockets that run $1,051 and others at $1,651: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Aurora and New Orleans are 1,073 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $584 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $31,737 (36%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 350 in New Orleans, up 138 points (65%).
The move
New Orleans and Aurora are 1,073 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $584 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $88,368 in Aurora, up $31,737 (56%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 212 in Aurora, down 138 points (39%).
Aurora, CO
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 Aurora and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 32% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,835 in Aurora, so New Orleans is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $584/month back in your pocket ($7,008/year). Over five years that's $35,040 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Aurora, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, New Orleans is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
56% higher
Aurora's median income is 56% higher than New Orleans
Aurora
Winner$88,368
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 56% higher in Aurora (about $31,737 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, Aurora 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
39% lower crime
Aurora's crime index is 39% lower than New Orleans
Aurora
Winner212 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Aurora's crime index is 212 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% lower in Aurora. 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, Aurora 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
12% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 12% more comfortable than Aurora
Aurora
61°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 89/100
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora averages about 61°F (71°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Aurora averages around 61°F. New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. New Orleans scores 12% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Aurora if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Aurora is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 56% higher here ($88,368). Start with Aurora if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Aurora is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than New Orleans (212 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
New Orleans is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 32% 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.
Pick New Orleans if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Aurora on this page's weather index by 12%. Aurora may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
On rent alone, New Orleans undercuts Aurora by $584/month ($1,251 vs $1,835). I would not pick Aurora on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Aurora's $1,835, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 37/100 in Aurora and 22/100 in New Orleans.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in New Orleans; Aurora only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Aurora at $88,368 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for New Orleans when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and New Orleans, plus other cities in CO and LA.
