Gretna receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Gretna
New Orleans
Opportunity
47 · Bottom 31%
vs43 · Bottom 22%
Growth
26 · Bottom 13%
vs34 · Bottom 23%
Climate
78 · Top 21%
vs78 · Top 20%
Physical resilience
31 · Bottom 24%
vs33 · Bottom 26%
Housing affordability
46 · Bottom 7%
vs55 · Bottom 14%
Schools
72 · Top 24%
vs35 · Bottom 29%
Access
92 · Top 49%
vs88 · Bottom 37%
Economic stability
32 · Bottom 8%
vs31 · Bottom 8%
Measured values
| Metric | Gretna | New Orleans | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,389 | 371,853 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $43,110 | $56,631 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,607 | $40,662 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,308/sq mi | 2,194/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $257,400 | $315,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,060 | $1,251 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 48.8% | 51.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 5.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | 0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 42.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 26.9% | 22.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 9 | 753 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.5 | 2.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -10.0% | 19.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 94°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 47°F | 47°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 64.6" | 60.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 20 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 24.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.3 | 38.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 73 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.52 | 13.19 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 47.7% | 19.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 46.5% | 33.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 66.7% | 75.3% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Gretna
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
New Orleans
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Gretna
53
Your Score
50
Area Score
New Orleans
50
Your Score
47
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Gretna, LA · New Orleans, LA · How this is calculated: methodology