Chula Vista CA vs New Orleans LA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Chula Vista, CA

California · Population: 8,933

  • Median HH Income$104,238
  • Median Home Price$849,245
  • Unemployment2.2%
  • Bachelor's+26.9%

New Orleans, LA

Louisiana · Population: 376,035

  • Median HH Income$55,339
  • Median Home Price$245,988
  • Unemployment7.8%
  • Bachelor's+41.9%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Chula Vista
8,933
New Orleans
376,035
New Orleans +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Chula Vista
N/A
New Orleans
N/A
Median Age
Chula Vista
42.9
New Orleans
38.4
New Orleans +
Foreign Born
Chula Vista
20.0%
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
6.6%
White
Chula Vista
65.7%
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
31.6%
Black
Chula Vista
0.7%
New Orleans
55.2%
New Orleans +
Asian
Chula Vista
0.7%
New Orleans
2.8%
New Orleans +
Hispanic
Chula Vista
36.5%
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
7.9%
Spanish at Home
Chula Vista
N/A
New Orleans
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Chula Vista
$104,238
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
$55,339
Per Capita Income
Chula Vista
$49,562
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
$39,698
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Chula Vista
$77,230
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
$55,297
Unemployment Rate
Chula Vista
2.2%
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
7.8%
Poverty Rate
Chula Vista
4.5%
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
22.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
Chula Vista
26.9%
New Orleans
41.9%
New Orleans +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Chula Vista
$849,245
New Orleans
$245,988
New Orleans +
Homeownership Rate
Chula Vista
71.4%
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
50.5%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Chula Vista
503
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
643
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Chula Vista
2388
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
2824

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
26.6%
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
34.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
11.4%
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
15.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Chula Vista
16.0%
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
19.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
12.4%
New Orleans
8.7%
New Orleans +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
15.7%
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
19.7%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Chula Vista
9.6%
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
15.5%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Chula Vista
63.5°F
New Orleans
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Chula Vista
9.8 in
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
66.6 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Chula Vista
7.9 µg/m³
Chula Vista +
New Orleans
8.9 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Chula Vista
75.0%
New Orleans
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Chula Vista
26.9 min
New Orleans
24.6 min
New Orleans +

Which City is Right for You?

Chula Vista leads in median household income at $104,238, while new Orleans offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $245,988. On public safety, Chula Vista is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 643 in New Orleans. Chula Vista has a lower unemployment rate at 2.2%, and Chula Vista has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Chula Vista scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.6%.

Compare More Cities

About Chula Vista & New Orleans