countyscore
24
County Score
Soil Quality 84.5Water Quality 65.8Property Tax 51.6

County Report Card

About Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Facing Substantial National Headwinds

Orleans Parish carries a composite score of 24.0, placing it well below the national median of 50.0. This low ranking highlights systemic challenges that affect its overall standing against other U.S. counties. The parish faces significant pressure across most measured dimensions.

A Unique State Outlier

The parish's score of 24.0 is less than half of the Louisiana state average of 53.0. This reveals a stark contrast between New Orleans and the rest of the state in terms of standard livability metrics. It identifies the parish as having some of the highest needs for structural reform in Louisiana.

Solid Water Quality and Income

Orleans Parish finds its strongest metrics in water quality, scoring 65.8, and income, where it scores 25.7. The median household income of $55,339 is higher than several neighboring rural parishes. These points represent vital foundations for the city's infrastructure and economy.

Safety and Environmental Risks

The parish faces critical issues with a safety score of 1.2 and an environmental risk score of 1.7. High costs also strain residents, with a cost score of 12.9 and median home values near $296,400. These factors contribute significantly to the low composite ranking.

Suited for Urban Culture Seekers

Orleans Parish is best for those who prioritize world-class culture and higher earning potential over traditional safety and cost metrics. Residents must weigh the parish's unique amenities against significant environmental risks and costs. It remains a destination for those dedicated to an urban, high-activity lifestyle.

2040608010051.612.91.242.521.425.71.765.818.4Tax51.6Cost12.9Safety1.2Health42.5Schools21.4Income25.7Risk1.7Water65.8Weather18.424/100
This county
National avg
6 below average

Orleans Parish DNA

Foverall

How Orleans Parish compares to the national average across 9 dimensions

Orleans Parish falls below the national average in most categories. The biggest gap is in Safety (1.2/100), though Water Quality (65.8/100) remains a relative bright spot.

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
51.6
Cost
12.9-35.1
Safety
1.2-53.8
Health
42.5
Schools
21.4-32.6
Income
25.7-25.3
Risk
1.7-45.3
Water
65.8
Weather
18.4-37.6
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Can You Afford to Live Here?

Median Home Price

$296,400

National median: $174,650

Median Rent

$1,211/mo

National median: $854/mo

Income Needed (home)

$296,400/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$48,440/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum5.4x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $55,339/yr
Compare Mortgage Rates

Economic & Education Snapshot

Primary Care

25.0

per 100K

Data from Federal Reserve (FRED), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and CMS NPPES.

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncome & Jobsincomebycounty.comSafetycrimebycounty.comHealthhealthbycounty.comSchoolsschoolsbycounty.comDisaster Riskriskbycounty.comWater Qualitywaterbycounty.comWeather & Climateweatherbycounty.comSoil Qualitysoilbycounty.comLawn Carelawnbycounty.comFarmers Marketsmarketsbycounty.comView on Mapcountyscore.com/map
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Nearby counties

St. Tammany Parish
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44.1
St. Bernard Parish
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42.5
Jefferson Parish
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34.2
St. Charles Parish
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48.8
Hancock County
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St. John the Baptist Parish
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Lafourche Parish
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Plaquemines Parish
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Deep Dives

Orleans Parish across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 11 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

Safety in Orleans Parish

via CrimeByCounty

Orleans Parish Crime vs National Trends

Orleans Parish sees a high total crime rate of 6,036.2 per 100,000, more than double the national average of 2,385.5. This leads to a safety score of 90.5, indicating significant urban safety pressures.

Safety Ranking in Louisiana Context

The parish's safety score of 90.5 is lower than the state average of 97.1. Seven different agencies report data here, providing a comprehensive look at the parish's unique security landscape.

Crime Rates Higher Than Neighbors

At 6,036.2 per 100,000, Orleans reports crime at over triple the state average of 1,853.7. This high activity level is typical of dense metropolitan areas compared to rural neighbors.

Analyzing Violent and Property Crime

Violent crime is substantial at 1,477.9 per 100,000, while property crime reaches 4,558.3. Both categories sit far above national averages of 369.8 and 2,015.7, respectively.

Securing Your Urban Property

High property crime rates make advanced home security systems a wise investment for Orleans residents. Visible security cameras and alarms can serve as critical deterrents in high-traffic neighborhoods.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Schools in Orleans Parish

via SchoolsByCounty

A Modern Urban School System in New Orleans

Orleans Parish manages a massive network of 79 public schools serving over 50,000 students. This dense city system includes 45 elementary schools and 26 high schools, defined by a unique decentralized management structure.

Graduation Trends and Efficiency Challenges

The graduation rate stands at 71.8%, which is below the Louisiana average of 85.4%. Educational investment is $7,102 per pupil, resulting in a composite school score of 44.2 in this complex urban environment.

The Epicenter of Charter Education

New Orleans is unique nationally, with 97.5% of its schools operating as charters. Large independent districts include The Willow School with 1,954 students and Morris Jeff Community School with 1,575 students.

A Purely Urban Educational Experience

Every school in Orleans Parish is located in a city locale, offering a high-density environment with an average school size of 633. The Willow School serves nearly 2,000 students, while specialized centers like NOCCA offer focused artistic training.

Finding Your Home in a Charter-Driven Market

In a parish where almost every school is a charter, location and school choice go hand-in-hand. Researching the diverse school options in New Orleans is the first step toward finding the perfect neighborhood for your family.

Full schools analysis on SchoolsByCounty

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

Water Quality in Orleans Parish

via WaterByCounty

Orleans Parish maintains high compliance

Orleans Parish stands out with a B grade, recording only 12 health violations over the last five years. Its violation rate of 3.1 per 100,000 residents is exceptionally low compared to the Louisiana average of 407.2. This performance indicates a highly effective management of Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.

Urban runoff impacts local waterways

The 2022 assessment shows that 81.8% of the parish's 121 water bodies are impaired, slightly better than the state average. Enterococcus and fecal coliform are the top pollutants, typical of dense urban environments with aging infrastructure. These bacteria levels often spike following heavy rain events.

Intensive microbiological and physical tracking

Orleans Parish features 24 monitoring sites that have generated a massive 17,920 measurements in five years. The data is heavily weighted toward microbiological and nutrient testing to ensure public safety. This robust data stream provides one of the most detailed water quality profiles in the state.

No live USGS river gauging

Orleans Parish does not have a representative USGS streamgage for its primary internal water bodies. This lack of live discharge data makes it harder to predict the immediate dilution of urban runoff after storms. Instead, environmental health is tracked through the parish's dense network of static monitoring sites.

Vigilance against bacteria in local waters

While drinking water compliance is excellent, the high rate of Enterococcus and fecal coliform in local basins suggests avoiding recreational water contact after rain. Residents can trust the B-rated tap water but should remain aware of watershed impairments. Infrastructure upgrades continue to target the sources of these bacterial pollutants.

Full water quality analysis on WaterByCounty

Weather & Climate in Orleans Parish

via WeatherByCounty

Among the nation's warmest

Orleans Parish averages a tropical 71.3°F, making it one of the warmest urban areas in the United States. This is far above the national median and reflects its coastal position.

Warmer than the Louisiana average

The parish is significantly warmer than the state average of 67.0°F. Its coastal influence and urban heat island effect drive temperatures higher than inland parishes.

Wettest in the region

With 64.7 inches of annual rain, Orleans is much wetter than the state average of 60.8 inches. It experiences 96 extreme heat days, nearly double that of coastal Plaquemines Parish.

Tropical summers and warm winters

July reaches an average of 84.8°F, while winter averages a balmy 56.8°F. Snow is almost non-existent here, with an annual average of only 0.1 inches.

Water management is critical

The 64.7 inches of annual precipitation requires robust drainage and flood preparation. Continuous air conditioning is necessary to handle the 96 days of extreme heat each year.

Full weather & climate analysis on WeatherByCounty

Soil Quality in Orleans Parish

via SoilByCounty

Acidic Peat and Urban Soils

Orleans Parish soil averages a pH of 5.87, remaining slightly more alkaline than the state average of 5.74. However, it still falls short of the national 6.5 neutral benchmark, reflecting its coastal and marshy origins.

Fine Particles and Low Sand

The soil is remarkably low in sand at just 5.1%, dominated instead by 35.2% clay and 28.0% silt. This heavy composition creates a dense, sticky soil that holds water tightly but can be difficult to work with hand tools.

Extreme Organic Wealth

The organic matter content is a staggering 22.38%, which is more than ten times the national average. This richness drives a high available water capacity of 0.232 in/in, making it some of the most nutrient-dense soil in the country.

Managing Saturated Ground

Though specific drainage classes aren't listed, the high clay and organic content point to soil that stays wet for long periods. Proper elevation and raised beds are essential for gardening and construction in this environment.

Lush Growth in Zone 9b

In the warm climate of Zone 9b, this organic-rich soil supports tropical ornamentals and citrus trees. The high fertility is a dream for urban gardeners looking to grow productive food forests.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Orleans Parish

via LawnByCounty

Tropical Challenges in Orleans Parish

Orleans Parish faces a difficult lawn environment with a score of 28.0, trailing the state average of 33.8. In Zone 9b, the extreme humidity and heat make maintaining a traditional lawn a constant battle.

Heavy Rains and High Heat

The parish receives a massive 64.7 inches of rain annually, far exceeding the ideal 30-50 inch range. Coupled with 96 extreme heat days, this tropical climate produces 7,917 growing degree days, leading to nearly year-round mowing.

Heavy Clay and Acidic Soil

With 35.2% clay and a pH of 5.87, the soil is heavy and slightly too acidic for some turf types. Drainage can be a major issue during the rainy season, so ensuring proper soil aeration is essential for root health.

Managing Moisture Extremes

Despite the high rainfall, the parish suffered 21 weeks of drought over the past year. Current conditions are 100% abnormally dry, requiring residents to monitor moisture levels closely even in this high-precipitation zone.

Heat-Loving Grass Recommendations

Bermuda and Zoysia are the most resilient choices for the intense New Orleans heat. Since the last frost typically occurs early on January 24, you can get a head start on your lawn earlier than most of the country.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Orleans Parish's county score?
Orleans Parish, Louisiana has a composite county score of 24 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does Orleans Parish rank among counties in Louisiana?
Orleans Parish ranks #64 among all counties in Louisiana on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in Orleans Parish, Louisiana?
The median annual property tax in Orleans Parish is $2,428, with an effective tax rate of 0.82%. This earns Orleans Parish a tax score of 51.6/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Orleans Parish?
The median household income in Orleans Parish, Louisiana is $55,339 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Orleans Parish earns an income score of 25.7/100 on CountyScore.
Is Orleans Parish, Louisiana a good place to live?
Orleans Parish scores 24/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #64 in Louisiana. The best way to evaluate Orleans Parish is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare Orleans Parish with other counties side by side.
By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

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