City comparison
Yes. Boston's crime index is 147 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 175 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Boston and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
The income gap between Boston and New Orleans is significant: $97,344 median household versus $56,631. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $2,147 in Boston and $1,251 in New Orleans.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans costs less and Boston 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
Boston and New Orleans are 1,358 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $896 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $40,713 (42%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 350 in New Orleans, up 203 points (138%).
The move
New Orleans and Boston are 1,358 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $896 a month (72%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $97,344 in Boston, up $40,713 (72%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 147 in Boston, down 203 points (58%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
42% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 42% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $2,147 in Boston, so New Orleans is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $896/month back in your pocket ($10,752/year). Over five years that's $53,760 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 Boston, 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
72% higher
Boston's median income is 72% higher than New Orleans
Boston
Winner$97,344
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 72% higher in Boston (about $40,713 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, Boston 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
58% lower crime
Boston's crime index is 58% lower than New Orleans
Boston
Winner147 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Boston's crime index is 147 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% lower in Boston. 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, Boston 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
72% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 72% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Boston averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. New Orleans scores 72% 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 Boston 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
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 72% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Boston is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 58% lower than New Orleans (147 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 42% 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 Boston on this page's weather index by 72%. Boston may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,251/month in New Orleans versus $2,147 in Boston. Median income reads $56,631 in New Orleans and $97,344 in Boston, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Boston's $2,147, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $97,344 in Boston versus $56,631 in New Orleans.
If housing cost drives your move, New Orleans is the stronger match ($1,251/month rent against $2,147). If an employer or family tie already points to Boston, treat $2,147/month rent and $97,344 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to New Orleans?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for New Orleans when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Boston and New Orleans, plus other cities in MA and LA.
