Can you afford to live in New Orleans?

Median household income, home values and rent in New Orleans, LA — how they've changed since 2015 and how much of a typical paycheck housing takes compared with the rest of the country.

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

This story was assembled using AI and public data sources.

What it costs to live in New Orleans.

Median household income: $55,339 — +50.4% since 2015 (not adjusted for inflation)

Median gross rent: $1,211/mo — +31.1% since 2015

Median home value, 2015 to 2023

• 2015: 192400
• 2023: 296400

Median household income

• New Orleans: 55339
• Orleans Parish: 55339
• LA: 60023
• U.S.: 78538

Median gross rent

• New Orleans: 1211
• Orleans Parish: 1211
• LA: 1038
• U.S.: 1348

Share of income a typical renter spends on rent: 35.4% — U.S.: 30.2%

What it means

The typical household here earns $55,339 — far lower than the national figure of $78,538.

The typical renter here spends 35.4% of household income on rent, above the 30% level housing agencies use to define cost burden.

Since 2015, income has kept pace with rent here (+50.4% versus +31.1%), before adjusting for inflation.