City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Newark.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,392 in Newark.
Safety is where New Orleans and Newark split most clearly. Newark scores 214 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 $1,392 in Newark.
New Orleans is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Newark makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone New Orleans is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Newark has rougher pockets and New Orleans has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
New Orleans and Newark are 1,162 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,392 a month in Newark, up $141 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $52,060 in Newark, down $4,571 (8%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 136 in Newark, down 214 points (61%).
The move
Newark and New Orleans are 1,162 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $141 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $56,631 in New Orleans, up $4,571 (9%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 350 in New Orleans, up 214 points (157%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Newark, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 10% cheaper than Newark
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Newark
$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,392 in Newark, so New Orleans is 10% 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 $1,692, 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 Newark.
Planning to buy in New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
New Orleans's median income is 9% higher than Newark
New Orleans
Winner$56,631
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $56,631 in New Orleans versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 9% higher in New Orleans (about $4,571 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
61% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 61% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% lower in Newark. 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, Newark 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
45% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 45% more comfortable than Newark
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. New Orleans scores 45% 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 Newark if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
New Orleans is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 9% higher ($56,631), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Newark is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 61% lower than New Orleans (136 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 Newark leads on safety (51/100 vs 22/100 in New Orleans). Typical rent is $1,392 in Newark and $1,251 in New Orleans; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Newark vs 22/100 in New Orleans), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,392 in Newark.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Newark; New Orleans only makes sense when you have walked the New Orleans ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,251 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for New Orleans when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Newark, plus other cities in LA and NJ.
