City comparison
Yes. Denver's crime index is 271 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 272 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Denver and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
The income gap between Denver and New Orleans is significant: $94,718 median household versus $56,631. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,831 in Denver and $1,251 in New Orleans.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans costs less and Denver 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
Denver and New Orleans are 1,080 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $580 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $38,087 (40%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 350 in New Orleans, up 79 points (29%).
The move
New Orleans and Denver are 1,080 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $580 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $94,718 in Denver, up $38,087 (67%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 271 in Denver, down 79 points (23%).
Denver, 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 Denver and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 32% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,831 in Denver, so New Orleans is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $580/month back in your pocket ($6,960/year). Over five years that's $34,800 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 Denver, 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
67% higher
Denver's median income is 67% higher than New Orleans
Denver
Winner$94,718
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 67% higher in Denver (about $38,087 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, Denver 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
23% lower crime
Denver's crime index is 23% lower than New Orleans
Denver
Winner271 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Denver's crime index is 271 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 23% lower in Denver. 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, Denver 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
28% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 28% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 57°F (66°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Denver averages around 57°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 28% 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 Denver 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
Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 67% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Denver is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 23% lower than New Orleans (271 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 Denver on this page's weather index by 28%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
New Orleans is cheaper on rent ($1,251/month vs $1,831), but Denver's $94,718 median income beats New Orleans's $56,631 by 40%. Remote workers paid on Denver scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
Denver still pays more locally ($94,718 median income vs $56,631), which can offset the lease if your field pays Denver rates.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Denver and 22/100 in New Orleans.
Between Denver and New Orleans, Denver is ahead on local pay — $94,718 median income against $56,631. Lean New Orleans instead when keeping rent near $1,251/month beats chasing $94,718 median income.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for New Orleans when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and New Orleans, plus other cities in CO and LA.
