City comparison
No. Stockton's crime index is 233 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 314 versus 393, using 2023 FBI data for New Orleans and 2024-2025 FBI data for Stockton.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,577 in Stockton.
The income gap between New Orleans and Stockton is significant: $56,631 median household versus $79,907. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,577 in Stockton.
This is a genuine split. New Orleans wins on cost of living and Stockton 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 Stockton are 1,862 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,577 a month in Stockton, up $326 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $79,907 in Stockton, up $23,276 (41%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 233 in Stockton, down 117 points (33%).
The move
Stockton and New Orleans are 1,862 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,577 a month in Stockton to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $326 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $79,907 in Stockton to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $23,276 (29%).
The crime index goes from 233 in Stockton to 350 in New Orleans, up 117 points (50%).
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Stockton, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing New Orleans and Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 21% cheaper than Stockton
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Stockton
$1,577/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,577 in Stockton, so New Orleans is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $326/month back in your pocket ($3,912/year). Over five years that's $19,560 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 Stockton, 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 Stockton? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
41% higher
Stockton's median income is 41% higher than New Orleans
New Orleans
$56,631
Stockton
Winner$79,907
Median household income is $79,907 in Stockton versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 41% higher in Stockton (about $23,276 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, Stockton 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
33% lower crime
Stockton's crime index is 33% lower than New Orleans
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Stockton
Winner233 (100 = avg)
Stockton's crime index is 233 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% lower in Stockton. 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, Stockton 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 Stockton are about even on typical weather.
New Orleans
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Stockton
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs); Stockton averages about 71°F (83°F highs). New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Stockton sits near 71°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 21% 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
Stockton is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 41% higher here ($79,907). Start with Stockton if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Stockton is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 33% lower than New Orleans (233 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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Stockton at $79,907 median income versus $56,631 in New Orleans. Housing ($1,251 in New Orleans, $1,577 in Stockton) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Stockton still pays more locally ($79,907 median income vs $56,631), which can offset the lease if your field pays Stockton rates.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,577 in Stockton.
If local pay drives your move, Stockton is the stronger match ($79,907 median income against $56,631). 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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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for New Orleans and Stockton, plus other cities in LA and CA.
