Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chesapeake, VA
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Chesapeake leads 13 of 23 categories
Chesapeake
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$92,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
249,377 ✓ Larger
Metairie
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chesapeake, VA
Pros
13% less violent crime than Metairie
Households earn $20,633 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,446/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $339,500
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.3%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Metairie
Metairie, LA
Pros
Rent averages $326/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,446)
Homes cost $50k less ($289,800 vs $339,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 54°F
Cons
Median income trails Chesapeake by $20,633/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Chesapeake
Median Income
$20,633
$92,703 vs $72,070/yr
Chesapeake
Violent Crime
13% lower
339.4 vs 390.1 per 100k
Metairie
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Home Value
$50k less
$289,800 vs $339,500
Metairie
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chesapeake, VA | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $339,500⚠ High | $289,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,120 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,703 ✓ Higher | $72,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 87 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chesapeake City Public Schools | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.3°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.0" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 249,377 ✓ Larger | 140,046 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.3% ✓ Higher | 62.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chesapeake's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chesapeake leads 13 of 23 categories. Chesapeake wins 13 and Metairie wins 10. 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 Chesapeake to Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,500 vs $289,800 median home), income ($92,703 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chesapeake, VA and Metairie, LA are about 923 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.