City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Plano.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
The income gap between New Orleans and Plano is significant: $56,631 median household versus $112,253. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,841 in Plano.
This is a genuine split. New Orleans wins on cost of living and Plano 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 Plano are 444 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $590 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $112,253 in Plano, up $55,622 (98%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 62 in Plano, down 288 points (82%).
The move
Plano and New Orleans are 444 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $590 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $55,622 (50%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 350 in New Orleans, up 288 points (465%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Plano, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 32% cheaper than Plano
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,841 in Plano, so New Orleans is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $590/month back in your pocket ($7,080/year). Over five years that's $35,400 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 Plano, 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 Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
98% higher
Plano's median income is 98% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 98% higher in Plano (about $55,622 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, Plano 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
82% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 82% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 82% lower in Plano. 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, Plano 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 Plano are about even on typical weather.
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano
69°F avg · 77°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Plano averages about 69°F (77°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano sits near 69°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 32% 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
Plano is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 98% higher here ($112,253). Start with Plano if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 82% lower than New Orleans (62 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 Plano leads on safety (75/100 vs 22/100 in New Orleans). Typical rent is $1,841 in Plano and $1,251 in New Orleans; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,841 in Plano.
Plano is ahead on safety (75/100 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
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Plano, plus other cities in LA and TX.
