Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Shreveport leads 12 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Shreveport
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Households earn $28,103 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($168,900 vs $312,800)
Rent averages $454/mo less ($945 vs $1,399)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Charlotte
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Charlotte by $28,103/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Median Income
$28,103
$74,070 vs $45,967/yr
Charlotte
Violent Crime
40% lower
733.2 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Charlotte
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$144k less
$168,900 vs $312,800
Shreveport
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 186,183 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Shreveport leads 12 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 11 and Shreveport wins 12. 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 Charlotte to Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $168,900 median home), income ($74,070 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Shreveport, LA are about 767 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.