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Economy, jobs and prices in New Orleans, Louisiana: official figures

The median household income in New Orleans was $56,631 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 100th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Louisiana median $60,756.

Median household income
$56,631
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
7.5%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
22.6 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,251
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$315,700
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
51.2%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
86.5%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in New Orleans?

Income per resident (per capita income) in New Orleans averaged $40,662 a year in 2020-2024, 411th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Louisiana: $35,038).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in New Orleans?

New Orleans' Gini index of household income inequality was 0.553 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 12th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in New Orleans, Louisiana?

7.5% of the civilian labor force in New Orleans was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (13,896 people), 118th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Louisiana's 6.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in New Orleans are working?

60.7% of New Orleans' 306,521 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 123rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in New Orleans have jobs?

170,586 residents of New Orleans held civilian jobs, 55.7% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 1,452 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in New Orleans?

The largest industry group for working residents of New Orleans was education, health care and social assistance (29.1% of employed residents), followed by professional, scientific, management and administrative services (14.2%) and arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (13.9%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in New Orleans work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 3.6% of working residents of New Orleans, 24th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 14.2% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in New Orleans, Louisiana?

Commuters in New Orleans took 22.6 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 285th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 4.8% travelled an hour or more and 26.6% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in New Orleans get to work?

14.9% of workers living in New Orleans worked from home in 2020-2024, 354th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 62.1% drove to work alone, 8.6% carpooled, 4.5% used public transport and 5.7% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in New Orleans, Louisiana?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in New Orleans was $1,251 a month in 2020-2024, 231st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Louisiana: $1,064).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in New Orleans?

Owner-occupied homes in New Orleans had a median value of $315,700 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 304th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Louisiana: $216,500).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in New Orleans?

The median home value in New Orleans was 5.6 times the median household income, 272nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in New Orleans, Louisiana own their home?

51.2% of the 155,821 occupied homes in New Orleans were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 76,077 were rented, 235th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; Louisiana: 67.4%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in New Orleans have broadband?

86.5% of households in New Orleans had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 59th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; Louisiana: 86.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in New Orleans have no internet?

10.1% of households in New Orleans (15,731) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 46th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 15.0% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How New Orleans compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 724 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
721Montgomery$56,811
722Fall River$56,673
723Pueblo$56,664
724New Orleans$56,631
725Ocala$56,376
726Owensboro$56,357
727St. Louis$56,160
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 411 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
408Bellevue$40,758
409Doral$40,702
410Buena Park$40,669
411New Orleans$40,662
412Irving$40,642
413Baltimore$40,604
414Herriman$40,547
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 12 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
9Miami0.556
10Greenville0.556
11Columbia0.555
12New Orleans0.553
13New York0.552
14Palm Beach Gardens0.549
15Auburn0.549
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 118 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
115Pittsburg7.6%
116Bellflower7.6%
117Apple Valley7.5%
118New Orleans7.5%
119Peoria7.5%
120Colton7.5%
121Kissimmee7.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 701 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
698Columbus60.8%
699Vacaville60.8%
700Hamilton60.7%
701New Orleans60.7%
702Schenectady60.6%
703Chicopee60.6%
704Baton Rouge60.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 539 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
536Elyria22.6
537Norman22.6
538Paterson22.6
539New Orleans22.6
540Santa Clara22.6
541Ogden22.5
542Hampton22.5
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 354 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
351Brooklyn Park14.9%
352Fayetteville14.9%
353Palm Desert14.9%
354New Orleans14.9%
355Fullerton14.9%
356Lansing14.8%
357Avondale14.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 110 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
107Santa Cruz4.7%
108Brockton4.7%
109New Brunswick4.6%
110New Orleans4.5%
111Waltham4.5%
112Champaign4.5%
113Federal Way4.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 800 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
797White Plains3.7%
798North Las Vegas3.7%
799Billings3.6%
800New Orleans3.6%
801College Station3.6%
802Indio3.5%
803Cape Coral3.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 81 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
78Pearland29.2%
79Jackson29.2%
80Winston-Salem29.1%
81New Orleans29.1%
82Burlington29.1%
83La Crosse29.1%
84Albany29.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 593 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
590Chattanooga$1,256
591New Britain$1,253
592Tyler$1,252
593New Orleans$1,251
594St. Charles$1,251
595Fayetteville$1,250
596Carson City$1,248
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 520 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
517Euless$318,800
518Port Orange$317,200
519Margate$316,200
520New Orleans$315,700
521Irving$315,600
522Waukesha$315,500
523Bolingbrook$314,700
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 269 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
266Vacaville5.6x
267Tacoma5.6x
268Fayetteville5.6x
269New Orleans5.6x
270Tampa5.6x
271Lodi5.6x
272Grand Junction5.6x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 589 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
586Johnson City51.3%
587Jackson51.2%
588Lubbock51.2%
589New Orleans51.2%
590Downey51.1%
591Charlotte51.0%
592White Plains51.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 765 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
762Tuscaloosa86.6%
763Rockford86.6%
764Enid86.5%
765New Orleans86.5%
766Hialeah86.5%
767Allentown86.5%
768Reading86.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

New Orleans ranks 46 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
43Brownsville10.1%
44Anderson10.1%
45Lowell10.1%
46New Orleans10.1%
47Hartford10.0%
48Port Arthur9.9%
49Miami Gardens9.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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