New Orleans
RANK #983 / 996 NAT · #21 / 21 LA · POP 380,408
1YR FORECAST: -4.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +1%
Orleans Parish, coterminous with the city of New Orleans, is known for its unique culture, music, and cuisine, deeply influenced by French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean heritages. The historic French Quarter, with its Creole architecture and lively Bourbon Street, is a central landmark. The parish is situated between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, with much of its land at or below sea level, protected by levees. Outdoor recreation is available at City Park, one of the largest urban parks in the U.S., offering botanical gardens, sculpture gardens, and walking trails. Commuting within the parish is facilitated by the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA), which operates streetcar lines, bus routes, and ferry services, with an average commute time of 28 minutes.
Life in Orleans Parish blends historic charm with modern challenges. While many residents express satisfaction with the city's culture, concerns about crime and housing affordability persist. The public school system, NOLA Public Schools, includes a mix of direct-run and charter schools, with ongoing efforts to improve educational excellence. The economy is undergoing transformation, with a focus on entrepreneurship and recent investments in lower-carbon energy production. Regional collaboration with neighboring parishes also aims to strengthen the broader economic landscape through coordinated efforts in infrastructure and economic development.
Below national median (4.7x)
Well below national median
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.5x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Hospitality Sector Developments (multiple hotel projects)
Various
|
$1,000M | Planned |
|
New Orleans Power Station (Natural Gas Plant)
Entergy New Orleans, LLC
|
$650M | Operating |
|
River District Mixed-Use Development
Undisclosed (includes Shell office building)
|
$500M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Orleans Parish scores just 0/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #983 of 996 counties. Job growth at +0.3% and median household income of $51,116 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Orleans Parish leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $281,500 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.18 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,162/month on average.
Orleans Parish is losing population (-0.9% YoY) while the job market is essentially flat (+0.3% employment change). Home values are -3.5% over the past 12 months. A slow-bleed pattern — not a collapse, but residents are leaving faster than employers are hiring.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.35% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Orleans Parish has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.