Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Metairie
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
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.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $158k less ($132,100 vs $289,800)
Rent averages $178/mo less ($942 vs $1,120)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Metairie by $25,886/yr
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.3%)
Metairie, LA
Pros
Households earn $25,886 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Buffalo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 32°F
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$158k less
$132,100 vs $289,800
Metairie
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$25,886
$72,070 vs $46,184/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
45% lower
390.1 vs 706.2 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.0% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $289,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,120 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $72,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 140,046 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories. Buffalo wins 7 and Metairie wins 16. 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 Buffalo to Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $289,800 median home), income ($46,184 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Metairie, LA are about 1,088 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.