City comparison
No. Riverside's crime index is 158 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Riverside.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,914 in Riverside.
The income gap between New Orleans and Riverside is significant: $56,631 median household versus $91,045. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,914 in Riverside.
This is a genuine split. New Orleans wins on cost of living and Riverside 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 Riverside are 1,620 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,914 a month in Riverside, up $663 a month (53%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $91,045 in Riverside, up $34,414 (61%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 158 in Riverside, down 192 points (55%).
The move
Riverside and New Orleans are 1,620 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,914 a month in Riverside to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $663 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $91,045 in Riverside to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $34,414 (38%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Riverside to 350 in New Orleans, up 192 points (122%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Riverside, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and Riverside? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 35% cheaper than Riverside
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Riverside
$1,914/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,914 in Riverside, so New Orleans is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $663/month back in your pocket ($7,956/year). Over five years that's $39,780 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 Riverside, 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 Riverside? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
61% higher
Riverside's median income is 61% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Riverside
Winner$91,045
Median household income is $91,045 in Riverside versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 61% higher in Riverside (about $34,414 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, Riverside 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
55% lower crime
Riverside's crime index is 55% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Riverside
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Riverside's crime index is 158 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% lower in Riverside. 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, Riverside 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 Riverside are about even on typical weather.
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Riverside
77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Riverside averages about 77°F (84°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Riverside sits near 77°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 35% 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
Riverside is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 61% higher here ($91,045). Start with Riverside if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Riverside is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 55% lower than New Orleans (158 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 Riverside: Riverside scores 46/100 versus 22/100 in New Orleans, with typical rent at $1,914 versus $1,251. I would vet the exact ZIP in New Orleans before trading 24 safety points for housing savings.
Riverside still pays more locally ($91,045 median income vs $56,631), which can offset the lease if your field pays Riverside rates.
Median income is $91,045 in Riverside versus $56,631 in New Orleans.
If safety drives your move, Riverside is the stronger match (46/100 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 Riverside, plus other cities in LA and CA.
