City comparison
No. Garland's crime index is 87 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 62 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Garland.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,641 in Garland.
Safety is where New Orleans and Garland split most clearly. Garland scores 263 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 $1,641 in Garland.
This is a genuine split. New Orleans wins on cost of living and Garland 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 Garland are 437 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,641 a month in Garland, up $390 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $76,320 in Garland, up $19,689 (35%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 87 in Garland, down 263 points (75%).
The move
Garland and New Orleans are 437 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,641 a month in Garland to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $390 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $76,320 in Garland to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $19,689 (26%).
The crime index goes from 87 in Garland to 350 in New Orleans, up 263 points (302%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Garland, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 24% cheaper than Garland
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Garland
$1,641/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,641 in Garland, so New Orleans is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $390/month back in your pocket ($4,680/year). Over five years that's $23,400 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 Garland, 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 Garland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
35% higher
Garland's median income is 35% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Garland
Winner$76,320
Median household income is $76,320 in Garland versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Garland (about $19,689 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, Garland 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
75% lower crime
Garland's crime index is 75% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Garland
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Garland's crime index is 87 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 75% lower in Garland. 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, Garland 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 Garland are about even on typical weather.
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Garland
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Garland averages about 66°F (73°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Garland sits near 66°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 24% 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
Garland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 35% higher here ($76,320). Start with Garland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Garland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 75% lower than New Orleans (87 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
New Orleans carries the heavier crime signal on this page (22/100 safety vs 64/100 in Garland). That 42-point spread matters more than the $390 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Garland's $1,641, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,641 in Garland.
Garland clears the bar on safety in this dataset. New Orleans deserves a serious look only when you already know the New Orleans block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Garland, plus other cities in LA and TX.
