City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Irving.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Safety is where New Orleans and Irving split most clearly. Irving scores 251 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 $1,619 in Irving.
This is a genuine split. New Orleans wins on cost of living and Irving 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 Irving are 451 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $368 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $81,830 in Irving, up $25,199 (44%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 99 in Irving, down 251 points (72%).
The move
Irving and New Orleans are 451 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $368 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $25,199 (31%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 350 in New Orleans, up 251 points (254%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 23% cheaper than Irving
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,619 in Irving, so New Orleans is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $368/month back in your pocket ($4,416/year). Over five years that's $22,080 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 Irving, 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 Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
44% higher
Irving's median income is 44% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 44% higher in Irving (about $25,199 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, Irving 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
72% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 72% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 72% lower in Irving. 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, Irving 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 Irving are about even on typical weather.
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Irving
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving sits near 70°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 23% 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
Irving is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 44% higher here ($81,830). Start with Irving if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 72% lower than New Orleans (99 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 60/100 in Irving). That 38-point spread matters more than the $368 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Irving's $1,619, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,619 in Irving.
If safety drives your move, Irving is the stronger match (60/100 safety versus 22/100). If an employer or family tie already points to New Orleans, treat $1,251/month rent and $56,631 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Irving when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Irving, plus other cities in LA and TX.
