Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Carrollton leads 12 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Metairie
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
65% less violent crime than Metairie
Households earn $23,310 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Metairie
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Metairie, LA
Pros
Rent averages $435/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,555)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Homes cost $38k less ($289,800 vs $327,300)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $23,310/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Income
$23,310
$95,380 vs $72,070/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
65% lower
137.1 vs 390.1 per 100k
Carrollton
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.3% unemployment
Metairie
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Home Value
$38k less
$289,800 vs $327,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High | $289,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $1,120 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $72,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 39.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 140,046 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 12 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 12 and Metairie wins 11. 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 Carrollton to Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $289,800 median home), income ($95,380 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Metairie, LA are about 447 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.