Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 19 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Metairie
Louisiana
19
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.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($150,800 vs $289,800)
Rent averages $100/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,120)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Metairie by $14,655/yr
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.3%)
Metairie, LA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Independence
Households earn $14,655 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 38°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
Independence
Median Home Value
$139k less
$150,800 vs $289,800
Metairie
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$14,655
$72,070 vs $57,415/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
32% lower
390.1 vs 571.2 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $289,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,120 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $72,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 140,046 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 19 of 23 categories. Independence wins 4 and Metairie wins 19. 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 Independence to Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $289,800 median home), income ($57,415 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Metairie, LA are about 671 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.