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Louisiana city profile

What Is It Like to Live in New Orleans?

What it costs to live in New Orleans, and how it compares with other Louisiana cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

24

29th best value in Louisiana

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Louisiana cities.

Overall livability

33

27th overall in Louisiana

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

New Orleans is home to about 383,974 people. A typical home runs $255,500 and a household earns around $45,600, a price-to-income ratio of 5.6. Among Louisiana's largest cities, it ranks 29th for value and 27th overall.

New Orleans at a glance

Median home price

$255,500

30th in LA of 32

Median rent

$1,079/mo

Median household income

$45,600

Home price to income

5.6x

Unemployment

8.4%

23rd in LA of 32

School rating

2/10

26th in LA of 32

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in LA of 32

Walk score

47/100

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‹ See all top Louisiana cities ranked  ยท  Louisiana state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Louisiana only. Updated 2026.