Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 18 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Metairie
Louisiana
18
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.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $6,615 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Metairie
Metairie, LA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Aurora
Rent averages $531/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,651)
Homes cost $120k less ($289,800 vs $409,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Aurora by $6,615/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$6,615
$78,685 vs $72,070/yr
Metairie
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Violent Crime
59% lower
390.1 vs 947.8 per 100k
Metairie
Median Home Value
$120k less
$289,800 vs $409,700
Metairie
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $289,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,120 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $72,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 140,046 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 18 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 5 and Metairie wins 18. 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 Aurora to Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $289,800 median home), income ($78,685 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Metairie, LA are about 1,060 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.