Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories
Davenport
Iowa
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Metairie
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1
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.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $135k less ($155,100 vs $289,800)
Rent averages $230/mo less ($890 vs $1,120)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (581.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Metairie by $12,180/yr
Property crime (3540.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.3%)
Metairie, LA
Pros
33% less violent crime than Davenport
Households earn $12,180 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
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
Davenport
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 91.1 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$135k less
$155,100 vs $289,800
Metairie
Median Income
$12,180
$72,070 vs $59,890/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
33% lower
390.1 vs 581.4 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 91.1 |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $289,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,120 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $72,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 140,046 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories. Davenport 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 Davenport to Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $289,800 median home), income ($59,890 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Metairie, LA are about 799 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.