City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Raleigh and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
New Orleans is cheaper. Median rent is $1,251 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Safety is where Raleigh and New Orleans split most clearly. Raleigh scores 208 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,572 in Raleigh and $1,251 in New Orleans.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. New Orleans costs less and Raleigh 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
Raleigh and New Orleans are 775 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, down $321 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $28,764 (34%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 350 in New Orleans, up 208 points (146%).
The move
New Orleans and Raleigh are 775 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $321 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $28,764 (51%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 142 in Raleigh, down 208 points (59%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
New Orleans rent is 20% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
New Orleans
Winner$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $1,251 a month in New Orleans versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so New Orleans is 20% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,852, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. New Orleans still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Raleigh.
Planning to buy in New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
51% higher
Raleigh's median income is 51% higher than New Orleans
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 51% higher in Raleigh (about $28,764 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, Raleigh 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
59% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 59% lower than New Orleans
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 59% lower in Raleigh. 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, Raleigh 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 Raleigh
Raleigh
60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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
Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 51% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 59% lower than New Orleans (142 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 20% 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 Raleigh on this page's weather index by 16%. Raleigh may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
New Orleans carries the heavier crime signal on this page (22/100 safety vs 49/100 in Raleigh). That 27-point spread matters more than the $321 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
New Orleans rent at $1,251/month is still below Raleigh's $1,572, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,251 in New Orleans and $1,572 in Raleigh.
Raleigh clears the bar on safety in this dataset. New Orleans deserves a serious look only when you already know the New Orleans block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and New Orleans, plus other cities in NC and LA.
