City profile · Louisiana · Census ACS 2023

New Orleans, LA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for New Orleans - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

376,035
Residents
$55,339
Median income
$296,400
Median home
$1,331
Median rent (state)

New Orleans - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, New Orleans places in the 28th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

28th
percentile, household income
65th
percentile, home value
48th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: New Orleans, LA

376,035 people live in New Orleans, Louisiana - a mid-sized U.S. city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. New Orleans households earn a median of $55,339 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 16.3%. New Orleans's housing stock carries a median value of $296,400, and the median resident age is 38.4 years. About 42.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 56.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 710 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 46% from five years earlier. NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 70.5°F with 63.4 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Louisiana run below the national norm: the state registers 88.2 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,331 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $212 across Louisiana, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in New Orleans report an average commute of 19.6 minutes, with 63.2% driving alone and 13.7% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 98.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

376,035 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Louisiana

Median Household Income

$55,339 /yr

Poverty 16.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Louisiana average

How does New Orleans compare to other US cities?

Where New Orleans sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 28% higher than other cities
Home value 65% pricier than other cities
Median rent 48% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares New Orleans against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Louisiana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Louisiana-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is New Orleans's strongest outlier among Louisiana cities

Among the 477 Louisiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, New Orleans ranks #16 - the 97th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares New Orleans only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#183 of 426
57th percentile in Louisiana
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 477
87th percentile in Louisiana
Median Home Value
#25 of 419
94th percentile in Louisiana
Poverty Rate
#214 of 475
55th percentile in Louisiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#16 of 477
97th percentile in Louisiana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Louisiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

28thIncome percentile

28th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How New Orleans's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$296,400 35th percentile more affordable than 35% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. New Orleans $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - New Orleans, LA New Orleans, LA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not New Orleans, LA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution New Orleans, LA median $55,339/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
New Orleans, LA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for New Orleans, LA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 42.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 16.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
376,035
Median Income
$55,339
Median Home Value
$296,400
Median Age
38.4
Poverty Rate
16.3%
Labor force participation
56.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
42.0%

Climate

Avg Temperature
70.5°F
Annual Precipitation
63.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"

Schools

Total Schools
79
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
360,000 residents370,000 residents380,000 residents390,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 383,361 residents 362,154 residents ▼ -5.5%
New Orleans's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
710
housing units authorized
Single-Family
202
detached homes
Multifamily
508
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1,306
2020 1,360
2021 1,576
2022 891
2023 1,067
2024 710

Permit volume decreased 46% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
19.6 minutes
Drive Alone
63.2%
Carpool
8.7%
Public Transit
4.5%
Walk
5.6%
Work from Home
13.7%
Other
4.3%

Based on 171,094 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Louisiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$40
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Louisiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Louisiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county New Orleans sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,331/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.3 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Louisiana

Baton Rouge
223,699 people
Shreveport
183,483 people
Metairie
138,995 people
Lafayette
121,537 people
Lake Charles
81,679 people
Kenner
65,113 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to New Orleans's 376,035 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cleveland, OH
367,523 people
Aurora, CO
390,201 people
Tampa, FL
393,389 people
Arlington, TX
394,769 people
Wichita, KS
396,488 people
Urban Honolulu, HI
346,323 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to New Orleans's $55,339 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Belle, MO
$55,341 median income
Moab, UT
$55,333 median income
Ellinwood, KS
$55,332 median income
East Frankfort, NY
$55,346 median income
Caryville, FL
$55,329 median income
Black Rock, NM
$55,350 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - New Orleans, LA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition New Orleans, LA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 31.6% 55.2% 7.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.9% White 31.6% Black or African American 55.2% Asian 2.8% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.8% Two or more races 7.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How New Orleans compares to nearby Louisiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
New Orleans (this city) 376,035 $55,339
Baton Rouge 223,699 $49,944
Shreveport 183,483 $48,465
Metairie 138,995 $73,256
Census ACS 5-year FIPS LA NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about New Orleans, LA?

What is the population of New Orleans, LA? +

The population of New Orleans, LA stands at 376,035 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in New Orleans, LA? +

Median annual household income in New Orleans runs $55,339, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in New Orleans? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for New Orleans; the closest available measure is the Louisiana state average, a cost of living index of 88.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Louisiana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in New Orleans, LA? +

Homes in New Orleans carry a median value of $296,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in New Orleans? +

The average annual temperature in New Orleans runs 70.5°F, 63.4 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.