Corpus Christi receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
New Orleans-Metairie
Corpus Christi
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 30%
vs43 · Bottom 24%
Growth
30 · Bottom 19%
vs58 · Top 37%
Climate
80 · Top 5%
vs78 · Top 7%
Physical resilience
32 · Bottom 22%
vs41 · Bottom 30%
Housing affordability
75 · Bottom 17%
vs88 · Bottom 32%
Access
60 · Bottom 22%
vs51 · Bottom 13%
Economic stability
36 · Bottom 30%
vs34 · Bottom 25%
Measured values
| Metric | New Orleans-Metairie | Corpus Christi | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 981,662 | 448,012 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $62,655 | $67,453 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,238 | $34,990 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 416/sq mi | 251/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $260,200 | $210,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,217 | $1,275 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.6% | 62.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 5.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.4% | 23.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.6% | 16.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,663 | 2,069 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.7 | 4.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 2.1% | -9.4% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 48°F | 48°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 53.9" | 31.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 64 mi | 72 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 22.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.2 | 37.8 | 2024 ACS 5-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
New Orleans-Metairie
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, coastal flooding.
Corpus Christi
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.
New Orleans-Metairie
51
Your Score
51
Area Score
Corpus Christi
56
Your Score
57
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metro Area · Corpus Christi, TX Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology