Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Metairie
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($170,700 vs $289,800)
Rent averages $125/mo less ($995 vs $1,120)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Metairie by $9,692/yr
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.3%)
Metairie, LA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Des Moines
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 31°F
Households earn $9,692 more per year on average
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
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$119k less
$170,700 vs $289,800
Metairie
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$9,692
$72,070 vs $62,378/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
45% lower
390.1 vs 703.0 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $289,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,120 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $72,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 140,046 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories. Des Moines 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 Des Moines to Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $289,800 median home), income ($62,378 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Metairie, LA are about 822 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.