New Orleans: Economy & Jobs
$56,631 is the median household income in New Orleans (about the same as Orleans Parish median $56,631; 1.1× below Louisiana median $60,756), with homes at a median value of $315,700. The surrounding county supports 188,050 jobs (avg $67,626).
- $78,740 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income (vs Louisiana $72,013).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $56,631 — near the Louisiana median ($56,631). Poverty rate 22.6% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 51% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 5.6× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | expensive |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 25.7% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 51.0% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 22.6% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 4.6% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $155,070 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $12,210,231 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $78,740 (vs Louisiana $72,013) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $63,059 |
| Median Household Income | $56,631 (at Louisiana median) |
| Poverty Rate | 22.6% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | white_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $56,631 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 4.5% — above the U.S. average of ~4%. 15% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 22.60 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 14.9% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 188,050 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $12,717,069,921 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $67,626 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 1,851,860 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% (vs Louisiana 4.2%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 13 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 137 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 10.50 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Vegetable Totals, Horticulture Totals, Floriculture Totals, Bedding Plant Totals |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 9,958 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 165,789 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 9,655,531 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 118 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 64 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 19 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 89 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 42 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 39 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 8 |
| Local Businesses · Bookstores | 13 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 534 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 381 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 236 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 163 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (20)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Downman Fuel |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 280 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | NEW ORLEANS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $3,466,895,716 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 9,028.44 (vs Louisiana $8,373) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 383,997 people (vs Louisiana 28,561) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Job Training · Total count | 7 |
|---|---|
| Pct Drove Alone | 62.1% |
| Pct Public Transit | 5.7% |
| Pct Walked | 14.9% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 38.8 years (vs Louisiana 37.9y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 28.5% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 8 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: IRS BMF keyword search · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12