New Orleans LA vs New Rochelle NY — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

New Orleans, LA

Louisiana · Population: 376,035

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

New Rochelle, NY

New York · Population: 48,198

  • Median HH Income$48,535
  • Median Home Price$920,484
  • Unemployment9.7%
  • Bachelor's+22.8%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
New Orleans
376,035
New Orleans +
New Rochelle
48,198
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
New Orleans
N/A
New Rochelle
N/A
Median Age
New Orleans
38.4
New Orleans +
New Rochelle
40.7
Foreign Born
New Orleans
6.6%
New Orleans +
New Rochelle
4.6%
White
New Orleans
31.6%
New Rochelle
66.1%
New Rochelle +
Black
New Orleans
55.2%
New Orleans +
New Rochelle
17.8%
Asian
New Orleans
2.8%
New Orleans +
New Rochelle
2.3%
Hispanic
New Orleans
7.9%
New Rochelle
8.0%
New Rochelle +
Spanish at Home
New Orleans
N/A
New Rochelle
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
New Orleans
$55,339
New Orleans +
New Rochelle
$48,535
Per Capita Income
New Orleans
$39,698
New Orleans +
New Rochelle
$30,033
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
New Orleans
$55,297
New Rochelle
$77,425
New Rochelle +
Unemployment Rate
New Orleans
7.8%
New Orleans +
New Rochelle
9.7%
Poverty Rate
New Orleans
22.6%
New Orleans +
New Rochelle
23.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
New Orleans
41.9%
New Orleans +
New Rochelle
22.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
New Orleans
$245,988
New Orleans +
New Rochelle
$920,484
Homeownership Rate
New Orleans
50.5%
New Rochelle
57.5%
New Rochelle +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New Orleans
643
New Rochelle
434
New Rochelle +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New Orleans
2824
New Rochelle
1736
New Rochelle +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
New Orleans
34.0%
New Rochelle
26.6%
New Rochelle +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
New Orleans
15.1%
New Rochelle
10.6%
New Rochelle +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
New Orleans
19.4%
New Rochelle
13.8%
New Rochelle +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
New Orleans
8.7%
New Orleans +
New Rochelle
9.5%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
New Orleans
19.7%
New Rochelle
14.9%
New Rochelle +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
New Orleans
15.5%
New Rochelle
9.3%
New Rochelle +

Climate

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

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
New Orleans
24.6 min
New Rochelle
20.0 min
New Rochelle +

Which City is Right for You?

New Orleans leads in median household income at $55,339, while new Orleans offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $245,988. On public safety, New Rochelle is safer with a violent crime rate of 434 per 100,000 residents, compared to 643 in New Orleans. New Orleans has a lower unemployment rate at 7.8%, and New Rochelle has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, New Rochelle scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.6%.

Compare More Cities

About New Orleans & New Rochelle