City comparison
Yes. Houston's crime index is 270 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 294 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Houston and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,361 in Houston.
Safety is where Houston and New Orleans split most clearly. Houston scores 80 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,361 in Houston and $1,251 in New Orleans.
This is a genuine split. Houston 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 crime gap is citywide. Houston has rougher pockets and New Orleans has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Houston and New Orleans are 317 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $110 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $8,182 (13%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 350 in New Orleans, up 80 points (30%).
The move
New Orleans and Houston are 317 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,361 a month in Houston, up $110 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $64,813 in Houston, up $8,182 (14%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 270 in Houston, down 80 points (23%).
Houston, 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 Houston and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 8% cheaper than Houston
Houston
$1,361/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,361 in Houston, so New Orleans is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $110, or $1,320 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Houston? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Houston's median income is 14% higher than New Orleans
Houston
Winner$64,813
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $64,813 in Houston versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Houston (about $8,182 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, Houston 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
Houston's crime index is 23% lower than New Orleans
Houston
Winner270 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Houston's crime index is 270 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 23% lower in Houston. 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, Houston 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
Houston and New Orleans are about even on typical weather.
Houston
75°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans
73°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 75°F (83°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (82°F highs). Houston sits near 75°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
Houston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($64,813). Start with Houston if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Houston 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 (270 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 8% 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: Houston scores 30/100 versus 22/100 in New Orleans. Rent is $1,361/month in Houston 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 Houston's $1,361, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,361 in Houston.
Houston is ahead on safety (30/100 vs 22/100); New Orleans is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,251/month rent plus $56,631 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Houston when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and New Orleans, plus other cities in TX and LA.
