City comparison
Yes. Wichita's crime index is 326 versus 350 in New Orleans, and its violent crime index is 353 versus 393, using 2024-2025 FBI data for Wichita and 2023 FBI data for New Orleans.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,251 in New Orleans.
The cost gap between Wichita and New Orleans is the real story here. Wichita comes in 22% cheaper on typical rent ($975 vs $1,251), which over a year adds up to $3,312. Median household income runs $64,620 in Wichita and $56,631 in New Orleans.
Wichita is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. New Orleans makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Wichita is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Wichita at $975 average has pockets that run $775 and others at $1,375: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Wichita and New Orleans are 677 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,251 a month in New Orleans, up $276 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $56,631 in New Orleans, down $7,989 (12%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 350 in New Orleans, up 24 points (7%).
The move
New Orleans and Wichita are 677 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,251 a month in New Orleans to $975 a month in Wichita, down $276 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $56,631 in New Orleans to $64,620 in Wichita, up $7,989 (14%).
The crime index goes from 350 in New Orleans to 326 in Wichita, down 24 points (7%).
Wichita, KS
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 Wichita and New Orleans? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
Wichita rent is 22% cheaper than New Orleans
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
New Orleans
$1,251/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,251 in New Orleans, so Wichita is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $276/month back in your pocket ($3,312/year). Over five years that's $16,560 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 New Orleans, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Wichita is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Wichita? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
Wichita's median income is 14% higher than New Orleans
Wichita
Winner$64,620
New Orleans
$56,631
Median household income is $64,620 in Wichita versus $56,631 in New Orleans, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Wichita (about $7,989 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, Wichita 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
7% lower crime
Wichita's crime index is 7% lower than New Orleans
Wichita
Winner326 (100 = avg)
New Orleans
350 (100 = avg)
Wichita's crime index is 326 versus 350 in New Orleans (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 7% lower in Wichita. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Wichita, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in New Orleans. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
New Orleans weather is 12% more comfortable than Wichita
Wichita
61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
New Orleans
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs); New Orleans averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Wichita averages around 61°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 12% 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 Wichita 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
Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% cheaper here at about $975 a month. Choose Wichita if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Wichita is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($64,620). Start with Wichita if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Wichita is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 7% lower than New Orleans (326 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
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 Wichita on this page's weather index by 12%. Wichita may pay more or cost less, but New Orleans is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Rent is the clearest fork: Wichita at $975/month versus $1,251 in New Orleans ($276 apart). New Orleans median income is $56,631 against $64,620 in Wichita, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Median income is $64,620 in Wichita versus $56,631 in New Orleans.
If housing cost drives your move, Wichita is the stronger match ($975/month rent against $1,251). 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.
Weather averages land near 61°F in Wichita and 73°F in New Orleans.
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