City comparison
Yes. Indianapolis's crime index is 216 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 246 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Indianapolis and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
Indianapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,156 a month versus $1,251 in New Orleans.
Safety is where Indianapolis and New Orleans split most clearly. Indianapolis scores 134 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,156 in Indianapolis and $1,251 in New Orleans.
Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Indianapolis has rougher pockets and New Orleans has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Indianapolis and New Orleans are 713 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,156 a month in Indianapolis to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, up $95 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $66,219 in Indianapolis to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $9,588 (14%).
The crime index goes from 216 in Indianapolis to 350 in New Orleans, up 134 points (62%).
The move
New Orleans and Indianapolis are 713 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,156 a month in Indianapolis, down $95 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $66,219 in Indianapolis, up $9,588 (17%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 216 in Indianapolis, down 134 points (38%).
Indianapolis, IN
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 Indianapolis and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Indianapolis rent is 8% cheaper than New Orleans
Indianapolis
Winner$1,156/mo
New Orleans
$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,156 a month in Indianapolis versus $1,251 in New Orleans, so Indianapolis is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $95, or $1,140 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 Indianapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
17% higher
Indianapolis's median income is 17% higher than New Orleans
Indianapolis
Winner$66,219
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $66,219 in Indianapolis versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 17% higher in Indianapolis (about $9,588 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, Indianapolis 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
38% lower crime
Indianapolis's crime index is 38% lower than New Orleans
Indianapolis
Winner216 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Indianapolis's crime index is 216 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% lower in Indianapolis. 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, Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis
Indianapolis
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Indianapolis averages about 57°F (66°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis 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
Indianapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,156 a month. Choose Indianapolis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Indianapolis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 17% higher here ($66,219). Start with Indianapolis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Indianapolis is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than New Orleans (216 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 Indianapolis on this page's weather index by 28%. Indianapolis may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Indianapolis scores 37/100 versus 22/100 in New Orleans. Rent is $1,156/month in Indianapolis and $1,251/month in New Orleans, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (37/100 in Indianapolis vs 22/100 in New Orleans), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $66,219 in Indianapolis versus $56,631 in New Orleans.
Indianapolis is ahead on safety (37/100 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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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Indianapolis and New Orleans, plus other cities in IN and LA.
