Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fall River, MA
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 18 of 23 categories
Fall River
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Metairie
Louisiana
18
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.
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $100/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,120)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Metairie by $19,336/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.3%)
Metairie, LA
Pros
47% less violent crime than Fall River
Households earn $19,336 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 39°F
Homes cost $38k less ($289,800 vs $328,100)
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$19,336
$72,070 vs $52,734/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
47% lower
390.1 vs 742.9 per 100k
Metairie
Median Home Value
$38k less
$289,800 vs $328,100
Metairie
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.4% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fall River, MA | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,100⚠ High | $289,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,120 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,734 | $72,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 144⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.8% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 75.7% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fall River | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.2" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,638 | 140,046 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 35.9% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall River's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 18 of 23 categories. Fall River wins 5 and Metairie wins 18. 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 Fall River to Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,100 vs $289,800 median home), income ($52,734 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fall River, MA and Metairie, LA are about 1,336 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.