Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, New Orleans, LA has a Safety Score of 2/100 — higher crime than 98% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 6,452.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,879 of 2,928 US cities and #20 of 25 in Louisiana.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is New Orleans, Louisiana Safe?
New Orleans has a safety score of 2/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 6,452.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 3,038.0 per 100,000.
New Orleans ranks #20 out of 25 cities in Louisiana and #2879 out of 2928 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 2nd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 98% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in New Orleans is murder, at 53.0 per 100K — 7.0x the national average.
Year over year, New Orleans's total crime rate increased by 4.8%, with violent crime declining 10.2%.
New Orleans Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 4,962 | 1,362.5 | 501.9 |
| Murder | 193 | 53.0 | 7.6 |
| Rape | 681 | 187.0 | 44.5 |
| Robbery | 656 | 180.1 | 103.6 |
| Aggravated Assault | 3,427 | 941.0 | 345.7 |
| Property Crime | 18,536 | 5,089.6 | 2,536.2 |
| Burglary | 1,742 | 478.3 | 315.9 |
| Larceny-Theft | 10,091 | 2,770.8 | 1,758.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 6,703 | 1,840.5 | 461.3 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
New Orleans vs Louisiana Average
How does New Orleans's crime rate compare to the Louisiana state average?
| Metric | New Orleans | Louisiana Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,362.5 | 978.2 | +39.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 5,089.6 | 4,550.4 | +11.8% |
| Murder Rate | 53.0 | 30.7 | +72.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 6,452.0 | 5,528.5 | +16.7% |
New Orleans Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for New Orleans, Louisiana.
Between 2019 and 2023, New Orleans's total crime rate is roughly flat (6,438 → 6,452 per 100,000). Violent crime is up 19% and property crime down 4% over the same period.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 364,197 | 6,452.0 | 1,362.5 | 5,089.6 |
| 2022 | 370,128 | 6,157.3 | 1,516.5 | 4,640.8 |
| 2021 | 391,149 | 5,539.1 | 1,488.4 | 4,050.6 |
| 2020 | 393,779 | 5,864.0 | 1,324.4 | 4,539.6 |
| 2019 | 394,498 | 6,438.3 | 1,145.8 | 5,292.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Orleans, Louisiana safe?
New Orleans has a safety score of 2/100, meaning it has less crime than about 2% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 6,452.0 per 100,000 residents in 2023, New Orleans is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in New Orleans, Louisiana?
According to FBI data for 2023, New Orleans has a violent crime rate of 1,362.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 5,089.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does New Orleans compare to the national average?
New Orleans's total crime rate of 6,452.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 364,197 residents.
What types of crime are most common in New Orleans?
Based on FBI 2023 data, the most reported crimes in New Orleans are larceny-theft (10,091 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (6,703 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 3.7x in the city.
How many murders were reported in New Orleans in 2023?
193 murders were reported to the FBI for New Orleans in 2023 — a homicide rate of 53.0 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in New Orleans going up or down?
New Orleans's total crime rate is roughly flat: 0% higher in 2023 than in 2019 (6,452 vs 6,438 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is New Orleans safe to visit?
Like any city, New Orleans has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 2/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.