City comparison
Yes. Cleveland's crime index is 341 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 425 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Cleveland and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,251 in New Orleans.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Cleveland and New Orleans. Cleveland averages 53°F while New Orleans averages 73°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,060 versus $1,251.
Cleveland is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. New Orleans makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Cleveland is the stronger move.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Cleveland in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Cleveland and New Orleans are 925 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, up $191 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $7,837 (12%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 350 in New Orleans, up 9 points (3%).
The move
New Orleans and Cleveland are 925 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $191 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $64,468 in Cleveland, up $7,837 (14%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 341 in Cleveland, down 9 points (3%).
Cleveland, OH
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 Cleveland and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 15% cheaper than New Orleans
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
New Orleans
$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,251 in New Orleans, so Cleveland 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 $2,292, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Cleveland still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in New Orleans.
Planning to buy in Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Cleveland's median income is 14% higher than New Orleans
Cleveland
Winner$64,468
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $64,468 in Cleveland versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Cleveland (about $7,837 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, Cleveland 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
3% lower crime
Cleveland's crime index is 3% lower than New Orleans
Cleveland
Winner341 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Cleveland's crime index is 341 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 3% lower in Cleveland. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Cleveland, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in New Orleans. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 52% more comfortable than Cleveland
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Cleveland averages around 53°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 52% 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 Cleveland 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
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Cleveland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($64,468). Start with Cleveland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Cleveland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 3% lower than New Orleans (341 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
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 Cleveland on this page's weather index by 52%. Cleveland may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Cleveland (53°F) and New Orleans (73°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 20°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,060 vs $1,251) and pay ($64,468 vs $56,631) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
With only $191 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $64,468 in Cleveland versus $56,631 in New Orleans.
Pick Cleveland when 53°F is the daily environment you want. Otherwise, New Orleans's case rests on 73°F you prefer and $1,251 rent you can sustain.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Cleveland when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Cleveland and New Orleans, plus other cities in OH and LA.
