City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Gilbert.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
The income gap between New Orleans and Gilbert is significant: $56,631 median household versus $122,551. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,251 in New Orleans and $2,110 in Gilbert.
This is a genuine split. New Orleans wins on cost of living and Gilbert 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 Gilbert are 1,296 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $859 a month (69%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $65,920 (116%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 47 in Gilbert, down 303 points (87%).
The move
Gilbert and New Orleans are 1,296 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $859 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $65,920 (54%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 350 in New Orleans, up 303 points (645%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Gilbert, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 41% cheaper than Gilbert
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so New Orleans is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $859/month back in your pocket ($10,308/year). Over five years that's $51,540 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 Gilbert, 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 Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
116% higher
Gilbert's median income is 116% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 116% higher in Gilbert (about $65,920 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, Gilbert 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
87% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 87% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 87% lower in Gilbert. 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, Gilbert 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 Gilbert are about even on typical weather.
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Gilbert
80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert sits near 80°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 41% 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
Gilbert is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 116% higher here ($122,551). Start with Gilbert if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Gilbert is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 87% lower than New Orleans (47 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
Safety is the widest gap: Gilbert scores 83/100 versus 22/100 in New Orleans. Rent is $2,110/month in Gilbert 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 Gilbert's $2,110, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Gilbert is ahead on safety (83/100 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 Gilbert when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Gilbert, plus other cities in LA and AZ.
