New Orleans LA vs Toledo OH — 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%

Toledo, OH

Ohio · Population: 268,461

  • Median HH Income$47,532
  • Median Home Price$130,101
  • Unemployment8.5%
  • Bachelor's+21.0%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
New Orleans
376,035
New Orleans +
Toledo
268,461
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
New Orleans
N/A
Toledo
N/A
Median Age
New Orleans
38.4
Toledo
35.7
Toledo +
Foreign Born
New Orleans
6.6%
New Orleans +
Toledo
3.4%
White
New Orleans
31.6%
Toledo
58.7%
Toledo +
Black
New Orleans
55.2%
New Orleans +
Toledo
28.7%
Asian
New Orleans
2.8%
New Orleans +
Toledo
1.4%
Hispanic
New Orleans
7.9%
Toledo
8.9%
Toledo +
Spanish at Home
New Orleans
N/A
Toledo
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
New Orleans
$55,339
New Orleans +
Toledo
$47,532
Per Capita Income
New Orleans
$39,698
New Orleans +
Toledo
$27,407
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
New Orleans
$55,297
Toledo
$58,300
Toledo +
Unemployment Rate
New Orleans
7.8%
New Orleans +
Toledo
8.5%
Poverty Rate
New Orleans
22.6%
New Orleans +
Toledo
24.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
New Orleans
41.9%
New Orleans +
Toledo
21.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
New Orleans
$245,988
Toledo
$130,101
Toledo +
Homeownership Rate
New Orleans
50.5%
Toledo
52.7%
Toledo +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New Orleans
643
Toledo
319
Toledo +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
New Orleans
2824
Toledo
1866
Toledo +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
New Orleans
34.0%
New Orleans +
Toledo
39.3%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
New Orleans
15.1%
New Orleans +
Toledo
15.7%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
New Orleans
19.4%
New Orleans +
Toledo
20.6%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
New Orleans
8.7%
New Orleans +
Toledo
11.3%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
New Orleans
19.7%
Toledo
14.9%
Toledo +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
New Orleans
15.5%
New Orleans +
Toledo
19.9%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
New Orleans
N/A
Toledo
50.6°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
New Orleans
66.6 in
Toledo
33.4 in
Toledo +

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
New Orleans
24.6 min
Toledo
21.3 min
Toledo +

Which City is Right for You?

New Orleans leads in median household income at $55,339, while toledo offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $130,101. On public safety, Toledo is safer with a violent crime rate of 319 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 New Orleans & Toledo