Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 15 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Metairie
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,585 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Metairie, LA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Atlanta
Homes cost $106k less ($289,800 vs $395,600)
Rent averages $392/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,512)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Atlanta by $5,585/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$5,585
$77,655 vs $72,070/yr
Metairie
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Violent Crime
54% lower
390.1 vs 840.6 per 100k
Metairie
Median Home Value
$106k less
$289,800 vs $395,600
Metairie
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $289,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,120 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $72,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 39.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 140,046 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 15 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 8 and Metairie wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Atlanta to Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $289,800 median home), income ($77,655 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Metairie, LA are about 426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.