The New Orleans metro is home to 988,763 people (down 21.8% over five years), with a median household income of $62,271. Typical rent of $1,577/month works out to 30.4% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of New Orleans's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 25.3% |
| Professional & management | 12.1% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 11.8% |
| Retail trade | 9.9% |
| Construction | 7.9% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 30.4% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the New Orleans market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,577/month suggests a household income around $63,000/year. The metro's median household income is $62,271.
By workforce share: Education & health care (25.3%), Professional & management (12.1%), Arts, food & hospitality (11.8%) (Census ACS 5-year).