Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
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.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($121,100 vs $289,800)
Rent averages $203/mo less ($917 vs $1,120)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Cons
Median income trails Metairie by $22,217/yr
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.3%)
Metairie, LA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Evansville
Households earn $22,217 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 42°F
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
Evansville
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 91.1 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$169k less
$121,100 vs $289,800
Metairie
Median Income
$22,217
$72,070 vs $49,853/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
68% lower
390.1 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 91.1 |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $289,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,120 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $72,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 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 | 317⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 | 140,046 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories. Evansville 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 Evansville to Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $289,800 median home), income ($49,853 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Metairie, LA are about 572 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.