Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 19 of 22 categories
Compton
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Metairie
Louisiana
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Metairie
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Metairie, LA
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($289,800 vs $489,400)
69% less violent crime than Compton
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.3%)
Rent averages $344/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,464)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$2,342
$72,070 vs $69,728/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
69% lower
390.1 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Metairie
Median Home Value
$200k less
$289,800 vs $489,400
Metairie
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.9% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $289,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $1,120 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $72,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 62.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 140,046 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Metairie leads 19 of 22 categories. Compton wins 3 and Metairie wins 19. 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 Compton to Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $289,800 median home), income ($69,728 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Metairie, LA are about 1,661 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.