City comparison
Yes. Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Fort Worth and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and New Orleans split most clearly. Fort Worth scores 215 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,251 in New Orleans.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth 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 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
Fort Worth and New Orleans are 468 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $258 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $22,876 (29%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 350 in New Orleans, up 215 points (159%).
The move
New Orleans and Fort Worth are 468 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $258 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $22,876 (40%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 135 in Fort Worth, down 215 points (61%).
Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 17% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so New Orleans is 17% 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 $3,096, 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 Fort Worth.
Planning to buy in Fort Worth? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
40% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 40% higher than New Orleans
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 40% higher in Fort Worth (about $22,876 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, Fort Worth 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
61% lower crime
Fort Worth's crime index is 61% lower than New Orleans
Fort Worth
Winner135 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Fort Worth's crime index is 135 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% lower in Fort Worth. 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, Fort Worth 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
Fort Worth and New Orleans are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Fort Worth sits near 66°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
Fort Worth is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 40% higher here ($79,507). Start with Fort Worth if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fort Worth is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 61% lower than New Orleans (135 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 17% 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
Safety is the widest gap: Fort Worth scores 51/100 versus 22/100 in New Orleans. Rent is $1,509/month in Fort Worth and $1,251/month in New Orleans, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Fort Worth's $1,509, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Fort Worth; 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
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Fort Worth and New Orleans, plus other cities in TX and LA.
