City comparison
Yes. Portland's crime index is 265 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 207 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Portland and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
The income gap between Portland and New Orleans is significant: $90,919 median household versus $56,631. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,655 in Portland and $1,251 in New Orleans.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans costs less and Portland 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 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
Portland and New Orleans are 2,060 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $404 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $34,288 (38%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 350 in New Orleans, up 85 points (32%).
The move
New Orleans and Portland are 2,060 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $404 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $90,919 in Portland, up $34,288 (61%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 265 in Portland, down 85 points (24%).
Portland, OR
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
New Orleans, LA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Portland and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 24% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,655 in Portland, so New Orleans is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $404/month back in your pocket ($4,848/year). Over five years that's $24,240 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 Portland, 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 New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
61% higher
Portland's median income is 61% higher than New Orleans
Portland
Winner$90,919
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 61% higher in Portland (about $34,288 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, Portland 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
24% lower crime
Portland's crime index is 24% lower than New Orleans
Portland
Winner265 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Portland's crime index is 265 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% lower in Portland. 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, Portland 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
16% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 16% more comfortable than Portland
Portland
60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. New Orleans sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. New Orleans scores 16% 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 Portland 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 and professional growth
Portland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 61% higher here ($90,919). Start with Portland if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Portland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 24% lower than New Orleans (265 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.
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 24% 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 Portland on this page's weather index by 16%. Portland may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Pay is the headline: Portland median income is $90,919 versus $56,631 in New Orleans (38% higher). Rent still runs $1,655/month in Portland and $1,251/month in New Orleans, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches Portland rates.
Portland still pays more locally ($90,919 median income vs $56,631), which can offset the lease if your field pays Portland rates.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Portland and 22/100 in New Orleans.
Pick Portland when your field pays toward $90,919 median income. Otherwise, New Orleans's case rests on a $1,251 lease that leaves more room in the monthly budget.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Portland and New Orleans, plus other cities in OR and LA.
