Is New Orleans Safe? 2023 Crime Data & Safety Guide
A data-driven look at New Orleans, Louisiana safety using FBI crime statistics. Last updated with 2023 data.
Key Insights
- →New Orleans's violent crime rate is 1361.1 per 100K — 279% above the national average
- →Safety Grade: F — Safer than 1% of US cities
- →4,957 violent crimes and 18,536 property crimes reported in 2023
- →Violent crime decreased 5.7% from 2022
- →Most common violent crime: Larceny-Theft (10,091 incidents)
New Orleans Crime Statistics (2023)
| Crime Type | Count | Rate per 100K |
|---|---|---|
| Total Violent Crime | 4,957 | 1361.1 |
| Murder | 193 | 53.0 |
| Rape | 681 | 187.0 |
| Robbery | 656 | 180.1 |
| Aggravated Assault | 3,427 | 941.0 |
| Total Property Crime | 18,536 | 5089.6 |
| Burglary | 1,742 | 478.3 |
| Larceny-Theft | 10,091 | 2770.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 6,703 | 1840.5 |
Violent Crime Breakdown
Year-over-Year Trend
Violent Crime
Property Crime
Neighborhood Safety Context
Like all major cities, New Orleans's crime is not evenly distributed. Crime tends to concentrate in specific neighborhoods — often those with higher poverty rates and fewer resources. Tourist areas, business districts, and affluent residential neighborhoods typically have significantly lower crime rates than the city average suggests.
The citywide crime rate of 1361.1 per 100K is an average across a population of 364,197. Some neighborhoods may be 5-10x safer than the average, while others may be significantly more dangerous. Always research specific neighborhoods when evaluating safety.
Verdict: Is New Orleans Safe?
New Orleans has a higher-than-average crime rate. Visitors should research specific neighborhoods before visiting. Many areas are perfectly safe, but concentrated pockets of violence do exist. The city has been working on crime reduction initiatives.