CountyScore

Orleans Parish

Louisiana · LA

#64 in Louisiana
59.8
County Score

County Report Card

About Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Orleans Parish falls below national livability standard

Orleans Parish scores 59.8, below the national median of 50.0, placing it in approximately the 35th percentile nationally. While still above the very bottom, this reflects tradeoffs between urban vibrancy and affordability constraints.

Below Louisiana's parish average livability

At 59.8, Orleans Parish trails Louisiana's state average of 70.4 by more than 10 points, ranking it in the lower half of Louisiana's parishes. This reflects the higher costs and risks inherent to Louisiana's largest urban center.

Income and health outperform rural counterparts

Orleans Parish leads with an income score of 19.5 and median household income of $55,339, paired with a strong health score of 66.3. These reflect New Orleans's role as an economic and healthcare hub with higher-wage jobs and medical infrastructure.

Housing costs and risk are major concerns

The cost score of 64.9 reflects median home values of $296,400 and median rent of $1,211 monthly—among the highest in the state. The risk score of 1.7 signals significant vulnerability, likely tied to flooding, natural disaster exposure, and economic volatility.

Urban professionals tolerating higher costs

Orleans Parish suits higher-income workers, creatives, and service professionals drawn to New Orleans's cultural ecosystem and job market. Not recommended for those seeking affordability or environmental stability; best for those prioritizing urban lifestyle and income opportunity.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax79.2Cost64.9SafetyComing SoonHealth66.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome19.5Risk1.7WaterComing Soon
🏛79.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠64.9
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼19.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤66.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡1.7
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Orleans Parish with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Dillingham Census Area
Alaska
59.8
Median income: $74,250
Denver County
Colorado
59.8
Median income: $91,681
Hinds County
Mississippi
59.8
Median income: $49,966
Ontario County
New York
59.8
Median income: $79,814
Clackamas County
Oregon
59.8
Median income: $100,360

Deep Dives

Orleans Parish across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Orleans Parish

via TaxByCounty

Orleans Parish taxes near national median

At 0.819%, Orleans Parish's effective tax rate exceeds the national median by roughly 3x, placing it in the top 35% of U.S. counties by tax burden. The national median property tax is $2,690; Orleans homeowners pay $2,428—almost exactly the national benchmark.

Highest tax rate in Louisiana by far

Orleans Parish's 0.819% effective tax rate is nearly double Louisiana's state average of 0.421%, making it by far the highest-taxed parish in the state. At $2,428 median tax, Orleans homeowners pay more than 3 times the state median of $732.

Dramatically higher than surrounding parishes

Orleans Parish's 0.819% rate dwarfs neighboring Plaquemines Parish's 0.462% and Ouachita Parish's 0.555%. No other Louisiana parish comes close to Orleans's tax burden, reflecting the urban concentration and service demands of the New Orleans metro area.

Median home costs $2,428 yearly in taxes

With a median home value of $296,400 and an effective rate of 0.819%, a typical Orleans Parish homeowner pays approximately $2,428 annually in property taxes. Mortgage holders should budget around $2,859 when escrow accounts are factored in.

High-value homes should verify assessments

Orleans Parish homeowners, especially those with higher-valued properties, should closely review their assessment notices and consider appeals if assessed values seem inflated. Even small reductions in assessed value yield meaningful annual savings at Orleans's elevated tax rate.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Orleans Parish

via CostByCounty

New Orleans housing demands top earners

Orleans Parish renters face a punishing 26.3% rent-to-income ratio—well above national norms—spending $1,211 monthly on a median income of $55,339. While this income slightly exceeds most Louisiana parishes, the rent burden rivals or exceeds costs in major U.S. metros.

Louisiana's most expensive housing market

Orleans Parish's 26.3% rent-to-income ratio ranks among Louisiana's worst, demanding renters dedicate over a quarter of earnings to housing. The parish's $1,211 median rent vastly exceeds the state average of $873, making New Orleans the state's priciest rental market.

Orleans dominates surrounding parishes

Orleans Parish renters pay $1,211 monthly—nearly double the rent in rural neighbors like Pointe Coupee ($794)—creating a stark urban-rural divide. Even Plaquemines Parish, despite higher incomes, charges just $1,611 for homeownership versus Orleans's $1,404 owner costs.

Urban pricing in full effect

Renters allocate $1,211 monthly and homeowners $1,404, consuming 26.3% and more of the $55,339 median household income combined. Median home values of $296,400 place New Orleans housing solidly in six figures—the state's highest.

New Orleans: prepare for big-city costs

Orleans Parish demands urban-level incomes for sustainable housing; renters here spend more than a quarter of earnings on rent—similar to costly U.S. metros. If New Orleans calls, budget aggressively for housing or seek neighborhoods and surrounding parishes that offer relief from the city center's premium pricing.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Orleans Parish

via IncomeByCounty

Orleans Parish matches state but trails nation

Orleans Parish households earn $55,339 annually, approximately 26% below the U.S. median of $74,755. The parish matches Louisiana's state median of $55,250, reflecting its role as an economic hub but still lagging national prosperity.

Aligns with Louisiana's statewide median income

Orleans Parish's median household income of $55,339 essentially matches the Louisiana state median of $55,250, positioning it at the midpoint of parish-level earnings. Per capita income of $39,698 significantly exceeds the state average of $29,702, indicating higher-earning workers boost the aggregate.

Outpaces most adjacent parishes regionally

Orleans Parish's median household income of $55,339 exceeds Ouachita Parish ($51,241) and Rapides Parish ($55,946), establishing it as a mid-tier economic performer. The parish ranks above lower-income neighbors but below high-earning Plaquemines Parish ($82,874).

Housing costs consume rising share of income

Orleans Parish's rent-to-income ratio of 26.3% approaches the 30% affordability ceiling, indicating housing costs are rising faster than incomes. With median home values at $296,400, homeownership requires substantial down payments and income stability.

Diversify wealth beyond New Orleans's boom-bust cycles

Orleans Parish residents should build diversified investment portfolios to weather the region's economic volatility and tourism dependency. Consider retirement accounts, index funds, and real estate diversification outside the parish to reduce concentration risk and build long-term wealth.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Orleans Parish

via HealthByCounty

Orleans Parish leads Louisiana health outcomes

At 73.7 years, Orleans Parish life expectancy exceeds the U.S. average of 76.4 years by a slim margin, making it the healthiest parish in this dataset. Just 21.5% of residents report poor or fair health—well below the national rate of 18%—reflecting New Orleans' urban healthcare infrastructure and resources.

Outperforms Louisiana's health average

Orleans Parish's 73.7-year life expectancy ranks 1.2 years above Louisiana's state average of 72.5 years, placing it among the state's healthiest parishes. At 8% uninsured, the parish is essentially at the state average, though density of healthcare workers exceeds most Louisiana counties.

Urban advantage in doctors and hospitals

Orleans Parish's 112 primary care providers per 100,000 residents far surpass neighboring parishes like Madison (20 per 100K) and Plaquemines (22 per 100K). With 680 mental health providers per 100,000, Orleans offers robust psychiatric and behavioral health services reflecting New Orleans' status as a regional medical hub.

Urban density means abundant healthcare access

At 112 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, Orleans Parish residents can access routine doctor appointments relatively easily within the city. Mental health providers at 680 per 100,000 support a well-established network of clinics, hospitals, and private therapists serving mental health needs across demographics.

Maintain coverage in thriving health ecosystem

Orleans Parish's strong health outcomes depend on residents staying insured; with 8% uninsured, ensure you have active coverage. New Orleans' major hospitals and clinics accept most insurance plans—verify coverage during open enrollment at LouisianaBenefits.com or your employer's plan year.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Orleans Parish

via RiskByCounty

Orleans Parish: Among Nation's Highest Risk

Orleans Parish scores a staggering 98.25 with a Relatively High rating, placing it among the most hazard-exposed counties in the United States. This far exceeds the national average, reflecting the parish's extreme vulnerability to multiple disaster types.

Highest Risk in Louisiana by Far

Orleans Parish's 98.25 score dwarfs the state average of 62.37 and ranks it as the most dangerous parish in Louisiana. No other Louisiana county approaches this level of composite risk.

Exponentially More Risky Than Neighbors

Orleans Parish's 98.25 risk score is more than double that of nearby Plaquemines Parish (72.93) and dwarfs the state average. This extreme isolation reflects New Orleans's unique and extreme hazard exposure.

Catastrophic Hurricane and Flood Risk

Hurricane risk reaches 99.67—nearly maximum—while flood risk sits at 93.51, both reflecting Orleans Parish's position below sea level and in the Gulf's direct path. Earthquake risk (80.38), tornado risk (71.56), and wildfire risk (48.09) compound the exposure.

Comprehensive Coverage is Non-Negotiable

Orleans Parish residents must carry flood insurance (federally mandated in most areas) and windstorm/hurricane coverage—standard homeowners policies exclude both. Additional earthquake insurance should be evaluated given the 80.38 seismic risk score.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

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Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.