Smart Movers Club

    Moving to New Orleans, LA

    Is New Orleans a good place to live?

    Watch New Orleans

    New Orleans ranks #14 of 18 Louisiana cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (32/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 1.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $296,400
    +5.3% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,211
    per month
    Household income
    $55,339
    median
    Unemployment
    7.8%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in New Orleans

    The median home value in New Orleans is $296,400 and median rent is $1,211 a month, against a median household income of $55,339. Homes cost about 5.4× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    New Orleans crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Louisiana the 2025 rate was 465 violent and 1,859 property crimes per 100,000 people — #7 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to New Orleans, LA

    New Orleans has about 376,035 residents, 7.8% unemployment and 23% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare New Orleans with

    New Orleans vs Baton RougeNew Orleans vs ShreveportNew Orleans vs MetairieNew Orleans vs LafayetteNew Orleans vs Lake CharlesNew Orleans vs KennerNew Orleans vs Bossier CityNew Orleans vs Monroe

    More: Where to move in Louisiana · Best counties in Louisiana

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report