City comparison
No. Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 135 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Glendale.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,528 in Glendale.
Safety is where New Orleans and Glendale split most clearly. Glendale scores 206 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 $1,528 in Glendale.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans costs less and Glendale 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 Glendale are 1,320 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,528 a month in Glendale, up $277 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $73,530 in Glendale, up $16,899 (30%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 144 in Glendale, down 206 points (59%).
The move
Glendale and New Orleans are 1,320 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,528 a month in Glendale to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $277 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $73,530 in Glendale to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $16,899 (23%).
The crime index goes from 144 in Glendale to 350 in New Orleans, up 206 points (143%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Glendale, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and Glendale? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 18% cheaper than Glendale
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Glendale
$1,528/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,528 in Glendale, so New Orleans is 18% 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 $3,324, 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 Glendale.
Planning to buy in New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
30% higher
Glendale's median income is 30% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Glendale
Winner$73,530
Median household income is $73,530 in Glendale versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Glendale (about $16,899 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, Glendale 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
Glendale's crime index is 59% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Glendale
Winner144 (100 = avg)
Glendale's crime index is 144 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% lower in Glendale. 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, Glendale 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
3% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 3% more comfortable than Glendale
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Glendale
81°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 97/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Glendale averages about 81°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. Glendale averages around 81°F. New Orleans scores 3% 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 Glendale 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 18% 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 Glendale on this page's weather index by 3%. Glendale 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
Glendale is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 30% higher here ($73,530). Start with Glendale if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Glendale 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 (144 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 49/100 in Glendale). That 27-point spread matters more than the $277 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Glendale's $1,528, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,528 in Glendale.
Glendale 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 Glendale, plus other cities in LA and AZ.
