What are the schools like in Metairie, LA?

Metairie is served primarily by Jefferson Parish. The district operates 50 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 16 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.4:1.

What is the median household income in Metairie?

The median household income in Metairie, LA is $72,070 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.

What is the weather like in Metairie, LA?

Metairie has an average high temperature of 62.5°F in January and 91.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 68.3 inches.

Metairie, LA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Metairie, LA affordable or expensive?

Metairie's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Metairie is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $289,800 and the median rent is $1,120 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Metairie, LA?

Metairie has a violent crime rate of 390.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2629.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Metairie, LA a Good Place to Live?

Metairie is a mid-sized city of 140,046 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $72,070 and a 4.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Metairie stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Metairie is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Metairie city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 91.1

Metairie's overall cost of living index is 91.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Metairie costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Metairie, LA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$289,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,120	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$72,070	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Metairie's violent crime rate is 390.1 per 100,000 residents — 3% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

390.1 /100k

Property Crime

2629.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Metairie is served primarily by Jefferson Parish. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Metairie, LA	National Avg
School District	Jefferson Parish	—
Elementary Schools	50	—
Middle Schools	7	—
High Schools	16	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	39.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Metairie sees average highs of 62.5°F in January and 91.4°F in July, with 68.3 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Metairie, LA
Average High — January	62.5°F
Average High — July	91.4°F
Annual Precipitation	68.3"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Metairie, LA	National Avg
Population	140,046	—
Median Age	42.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	73.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	10.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	8.3%	18.9%
Asian	4.0%	6.3%
Under 18	19.6%	22.2%
65 and over	21.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Jefferson, LA 3 mi Elmwood, LA 3 mi River Ridge, LA 4 mi Bridge City, LA 4 mi Harahan, LA 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Metairie

Metairie, LA is covered by 5 ZIP codes:

70003 70001 70005 70002 70006

Metairie vs Other Cities

Metairie, LA vs Jefferson, LA Metairie, LA vs Elmwood, LA Metairie, LA vs River Ridge, LA Metairie, LA vs Bridge City, LA Metairie, LA vs Harahan, LA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Metairie, LA affordable or expensive?

Metairie's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Metairie roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $289,800 and median rent is $1,120/month.

What is the crime rate in Metairie, LA?

Metairie's violent crime rate is 390.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2629.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Metairie?

Public schools in Metairie are operated by Jefferson Parish. The district has 50 elementary, 7 middle, and 16 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 39.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Metairie, LA a good place to live?

Metairie, LA has a population of 140,046, a median household income of $72,070, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Metairie?

Metairie averages 62.5°F in January and 91.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 68.3 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Metairie?

Metairie, LA is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 70003, 70001, 70005, 70002, 70006.

What is the population of Metairie?

The population of Metairie, Louisiana is 140,046 with a median age of 42.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Metairie?

Key numbers for living in Metairie: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $289,800, median household income $72,070, crime index 112 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Metairie side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.