Living in New Orleans, LA
Big city in Louisiana
New Orleans is a big city in Louisiana, home to about 376,000 people, with 991,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is New Orleans a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $208k and rents for $1,700 a month
- Low taxes: about $1,029 state income tax per resident, 0.82% property tax
- Strong healthcare: 3 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Easy flying: MSY is 13 mi away
👎 Cons
- Fewer family amenities than most places
- Few dog parks: 3 within 9 mi
- Higher crime: violent crime is 3.0× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how New Orleans ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in New Orleans: common questions
What is the cost of living in New Orleans?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $208k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,700 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 93, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in New Orleans?
Louisiana collects about $1,029 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.82% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is New Orleans safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (3.0× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in New Orleans?
New Orleans has mild winters: winter days average around 64°F and summer days around 92°F.
Does New Orleans get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is high, mainly from hurricanes and flooding: 18 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.83 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to New Orleans?
The nearest major airport is MSY, about 13 mi away.
How New Orleans scores
Each bar compares New Orleans with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is New Orleans right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.