Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 14 of 22 categories
Hemet
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Metairie
Louisiana
14
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.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Median income trails Metairie by $22,169/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Metairie
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 4.3%)
Metairie, LA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Households earn $22,169 more per year on average
8% less violent crime than Hemet
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $237/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,357)
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Median Home Value
$13k less
$277,200 vs $289,800
Hemet
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 91.4°F
Metairie
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$22,169
$72,070 vs $49,901/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
8% lower
390.1 vs 424.8 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 ✓ Lower | $289,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $1,120 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $72,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 62.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 140,046 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 21.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Metairie leads 14 of 22 categories. Hemet wins 8 and Metairie wins 14. 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 Hemet to Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $289,800 median home), income ($49,901 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Metairie, LA are about 1,590 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.