Comparing Crime Rates in New Orleans to Rest of United States

After the tragic shooting at a Mother's Day parade in New Orleans, La., the crime statistics for the city has been in discussion. The city known for its great history, cuisine, and architecture has had its share of problems over the years. There are certain neighborhoods that are considered to be safer than others, but the city of New Orleans has a higher crime rate than the average in Louisiana and nationwide. What do the crime statistics look like throughout the city and how bad is here compared to other areas?

Comparing New Orleans to State and National Numbers
Within the city limits of New Orleans, the same common crimes that occur nationwide happen here as well, just with more frequency. On a scale of 1 through 100, New Orleans has an 11 score, meaning it is safer than just 11 percent of the country. According to their 2012 crime figures, there were 7.63 violent crimes for every 1,000 residents and another 39.52 property crimes for every 1,000 property crimes.

For every 1,000 residents in the city of New Orleans, that 7.63 violent crime number stands outs. In the state of Louisiana, that number is just 5.55. Throughout the state, the number is higher than the national median number of 3.9. With New Orleans being a hot tourist destination throughout the year, the likelihood of a tourist being affected by a violent crime is high. There is the potential for a crime to happen in one of every 131 people in the city compared to 1 out of 180 to visit the state.

Crimes categorized as violent are rape, murder, robbery, and assault. For every 1,000 residents in the city of more than 360,000 people, 0.55 percent is murder, 0.45 percent is rape, 2.94 percent is robbery, and 3.68 percent is assault. In comparison to the numbers seen in the United States, 0.05 percent is murder, 0.27 percent is rape, 1.14 percent is robbery, and 2.41 percent is assault.

When it comes to owning a piece of property around the United States, the national median for having a crime occur is 29.1 percent. In the state of Louisiana, that number is 36.89 percent and the number is even higher in New Orleans at 39.52. The chances of having a crime occur at your home in New Orleans is 1 in 25, while the number is slightly better statewide at 1 in 27. For every 1,000 people, the chances of your home being burglarized are close to 11 percent while you face nearly a 22 percent chance of having your home entered by thieves. In the last year, there were also more than 2,500 motor vehicle thefts, which is more than seven percent per 1,000 residents. Compared to the entire nation, these numbers are quite high. Nationwide, the chances of your home being burglarized is just seven percent, while home thefts occur in 19 percent, and motor vehicle thefts occur in less than 2.5 percent.

The one crime aspect in Louisiana that is less than the national median is crimes per square mile. Throughout the United States, there is an average of 39.6 crimes per square mile, while statewide, that number is just an average of 37. Within the city limits of New Orleans, there is an average of 49 crimes per square mile, which is a number still on the rise. These numbers show that those visiting the city and those living in the city experience a higher likelihood of having a crime committed against them.

Safest Neighborhoods
The entire city of New Orleans isn't a guaranteed area to be mugged or have your car stolen in. The city does have certain neighborhoods that are safer to live in than others. The safest area to live in would be the New Orleans East Area. This neighborhood is called the Chef Menteur / Rigolets area. The property in this area is moderately prices with the median price of a home costing $253,000. In the state of Louisiana, this area is one of the most expensive, as just seven percent of neighborhoods will cost more. There are a lot of properties vacated here as 28 percent remain unoccupied.

Another safe neighborhood found in New Orleans is the Lake Forrest Boulevard / Bullard Avenue area. It is located just blocks away from Lake Ponchartrain, making this area an ideal location to spend your vacation time. You can get to this safe area of the city by getting of Interstate 510. Homes in this neighborhood are a bit more expensive than those in the Chef Menteur and Rigolets area. Here, the median home value is $260,000 and finding your dream property is more difficult because vacancies within this neighborhood are just 16.5 percent.

The next safest area of New Orleans to live is located close to the Main Outfall Canal. This area is Delery Street and North Galvez Street which is just blocks away from the Lower Ninth Ward. That area was devastated during Hurricane Katrina when a levee broke that flooded this area and left thousands of people stranded in their homes. Property prices in this area have taken a toll because of the flooding, with the median price costing just more than $91,000 per home. The number of vacant homes in this neighborhood is close to 50 percent.

When it comes to the city of New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana in general, crime is running rampant. It is a dangerous place to live and a dangerous place for tourists to travel to, but the culture, food, and atmosphere of this popular southern city will keep millions of visitors heading there each year. If you decide that you want to do more than just visit the city, there are several neighborhoods where the crime rate isn't as high as it is in the rest of the city and could provide a great locale to raise your kids.

New Orleans is a city with lots of opportunity and activities. If you find yourself in need of a criminal or dwi attorney while visiting the area, contact a local firm for the best defense.

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