Cicero IL 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)

Cicero, IL

Illinois · Population: 26,938

  • Median HH Income$57,479
  • Median Home Price$268,119
  • Unemployment12.7%
  • Bachelor's+20.2%

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
Cicero
26,938
New Orleans
376,035
New Orleans +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Cicero
N/A
New Orleans
N/A
Median Age
Cicero
35.6
Cicero +
New Orleans
38.4
Foreign Born
Cicero
15.7%
Cicero +
New Orleans
6.6%
White
Cicero
26.6%
New Orleans
31.6%
New Orleans +
Black
Cicero
40.3%
New Orleans
55.2%
New Orleans +
Asian
Cicero
0.2%
New Orleans
2.8%
New Orleans +
Hispanic
Cicero
37.2%
Cicero +
New Orleans
7.9%
Spanish at Home
Cicero
N/A
New Orleans
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Cicero
$57,479
Cicero +
New Orleans
$55,339
Per Capita Income
Cicero
$25,488
New Orleans
$39,698
New Orleans +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Cicero
$68,110
Cicero +
New Orleans
$55,297
Unemployment Rate
Cicero
12.7%
New Orleans
7.8%
New Orleans +
Poverty Rate
Cicero
24.7%
New Orleans
22.6%
New Orleans +
Bachelor's Degree+
Cicero
20.2%
New Orleans
41.9%
New Orleans +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Cicero
$268,119
New Orleans
$245,988
New Orleans +
Homeownership Rate
Cicero
63.2%
Cicero +
New Orleans
50.5%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cicero
344
Cicero +
New Orleans
643
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Cicero
1842
Cicero +
New Orleans
2824

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Cicero
35.5%
New Orleans
34.0%
New Orleans +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Cicero
13.5%
Cicero +
New Orleans
15.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Cicero
16.5%
Cicero +
New Orleans
19.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Cicero
29.7%
New Orleans
8.7%
New Orleans +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Cicero
19.0%
Cicero +
New Orleans
19.7%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Cicero
12.8%
Cicero +
New Orleans
15.5%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cicero
N/A
New Orleans
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Cicero
N/A
New Orleans
66.6 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Cicero
9.4 µg/m³
New Orleans
8.9 µg/m³
New Orleans +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Cicero
55.0%
New Orleans
75.0%
New Orleans +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Cicero
33.7 min
New Orleans
24.6 min
New Orleans +

Which City is Right for You?

Cicero leads in median household income at $57,479, while new Orleans offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $245,988. On public safety, Cicero is safer with a violent crime rate of 344 per 100,000 residents, compared to 643 in New Orleans. New Orleans has a lower unemployment rate at 7.8%, and New Orleans has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, New Orleans scores better with a lower obesity rate of 34.0%.

Compare More Cities

About Cicero & New Orleans