City comparison
No. Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Lexington.
Lexington is cheaper. Median rent is $1,164 a month versus $1,251 in New Orleans.
Safety is where New Orleans and Lexington split most clearly. Lexington scores 248 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 $1,164 in Lexington.
Lexington is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. New Orleans makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Lexington is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Lexington has rougher pockets and New Orleans has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
New Orleans and Lexington are 641 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,164 a month in Lexington, down $87 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $69,479 in Lexington, up $12,848 (23%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 102 in Lexington, down 248 points (71%).
The move
Lexington and New Orleans are 641 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,164 a month in Lexington to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, up $87 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $69,479 in Lexington to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $12,848 (18%).
The crime index goes from 102 in Lexington to 350 in New Orleans, up 248 points (243%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lexington, KY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Lexington rent is 7% cheaper than New Orleans
New Orleans
$1,251/mo
Lexington
Winner$1,164/mo
Typical rent runs $1,164 a month in Lexington versus $1,251 in New Orleans, so Lexington is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $87, or $1,044 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
23% higher
Lexington's median income is 23% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Lexington
Winner$69,479
Median household income is $69,479 in Lexington versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Lexington (about $12,848 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, Lexington 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
71% lower crime
Lexington's crime index is 71% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Lexington
Winner102 (100 = avg)
Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% lower in Lexington. 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, Lexington 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
56% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 56% more comfortable than Lexington
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lexington
52°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 64/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Lexington averages about 52°F (63°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Lexington averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. New Orleans scores 56% 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 Lexington 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
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 Lexington on this page's weather index by 56%. Lexington 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
Lexington is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,164 a month. Choose Lexington if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Lexington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 23% higher here ($69,479). Start with Lexington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Lexington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than New Orleans (102 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 Lexington leads on safety (59/100 vs 22/100 in New Orleans). Typical rent is $1,164 in Lexington and $1,251 in New Orleans; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (59/100 in Lexington vs 22/100 in New Orleans), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $69,479 in Lexington versus $56,631 in New Orleans.
Between New Orleans and Lexington, Lexington is ahead on safety — 59/100 safety versus 22/100. Lean New Orleans instead when you already know the New Orleans block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Lexington, plus other cities in LA and KY.
