City comparison
No. Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 122 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Richmond.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,372 in Richmond.
Safety is where New Orleans and Richmond split most clearly. Richmond scores 181 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 $1,372 in Richmond.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans costs less and Richmond 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 crime gap is citywide. Richmond has rougher pockets and New Orleans has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
New Orleans and Richmond are 894 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,372 a month in Richmond, up $121 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $64,587 in Richmond, up $7,956 (14%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 169 in Richmond, down 181 points (52%).
The move
Richmond and New Orleans are 894 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $121 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $7,956 (12%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 350 in New Orleans, up 181 points (107%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 9% cheaper than Richmond
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Richmond
$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,372 in Richmond, so New Orleans is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $121, or $1,452 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 New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Richmond's median income is 14% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Richmond
Winner$64,587
Median household income is $64,587 in Richmond versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Richmond (about $7,956 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, Richmond 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
52% lower crime
Richmond's crime index is 52% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Richmond
Winner169 (100 = avg)
Richmond's crime index is 169 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% lower in Richmond. 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, Richmond 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
28% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 28% more comfortable than Richmond
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Richmond
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. New Orleans scores 28% 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 Richmond 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 9% 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 Richmond on this page's weather index by 28%. Richmond 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
Richmond is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($64,587). Start with Richmond if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Richmond is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 52% lower than New Orleans (169 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Richmond: Richmond scores 44/100 versus 22/100 in New Orleans, with typical rent at $1,372 versus $1,251. I would vet the exact ZIP in New Orleans before trading 22 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (44/100 in Richmond vs 22/100 in New Orleans), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $64,587 in Richmond versus $56,631 in New Orleans.
If safety drives your move, Richmond is the stronger match (44/100 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
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Richmond, plus other cities in LA and VA.
