City comparison
No. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Anaheim.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
The income gap between New Orleans and Anaheim is significant: $56,631 median household versus $95,227. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,251 in New Orleans and $2,175 in Anaheim.
This is a genuine split. New Orleans wins on cost of living and Anaheim wins on the job market and safety. 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
New Orleans and Anaheim are 1,650 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $924 a month (74%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $38,596 (68%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 143 in Anaheim, down 207 points (59%).
The move
Anaheim and New Orleans are 1,650 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $924 a month (42%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $38,596 (41%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 350 in New Orleans, up 207 points (145%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
42% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 42% cheaper than Anaheim
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so New Orleans is 42% cheaper. That's roughly $924/month back in your pocket ($11,088/year). Over five years that's $55,440 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 Anaheim, 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 Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
68% higher
Anaheim's median income is 68% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 68% higher in Anaheim (about $38,596 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, Anaheim 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
59% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 59% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% lower in Anaheim. 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, Anaheim 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
New Orleans and Anaheim are about even on typical weather.
New Orleans
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Anaheim
72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Anaheim averages about 72°F (78°F highs). New Orleans sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Anaheim sits near 72°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
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 42% 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Anaheim is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 68% higher here ($95,227). Start with Anaheim if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 59% lower than New Orleans (143 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.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: New Orleans at $1,251/month versus $2,175 in Anaheim ($924 apart). Anaheim median income is $95,227 against $56,631 in New Orleans, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Anaheim's $2,175, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $56,631 in New Orleans.
Pick New Orleans when shaving $924 off rent at $1,251/month is the priority. Otherwise, Anaheim's case rests on $2,175/month rent with $95,227 local income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Anaheim, plus other cities in LA and CA.
