City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Durham.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Safety is where New Orleans and Durham split most clearly. Durham scores 157 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,508 in Durham.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans costs less and Durham 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
New Orleans and Durham are 770 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $257 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $81,619 in Durham, up $24,988 (44%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 193 in Durham, down 157 points (45%).
The move
Durham and New Orleans are 770 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $257 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $24,988 (31%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 350 in New Orleans, up 157 points (81%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 17% cheaper than Durham
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,508 in Durham, 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 $3,084, 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 Durham.
Planning to buy in New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
44% higher
Durham's median income is 44% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 44% higher in Durham (about $24,988 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, Durham 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
45% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 45% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% lower in Durham. 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, Durham 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
20% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. New Orleans scores 20% 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 Durham if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
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 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.
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 Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 44% higher here ($81,619). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 45% lower than New Orleans (193 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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Durham leads on safety (40/100 vs 22/100 in New Orleans). Typical rent is $1,508 in Durham and $1,251 in New Orleans; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Durham's $1,508, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,508 in Durham.
Durham is ahead on safety (40/100 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 New Orleans and Durham, plus other cities in LA and NC.
