Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 15 of 22 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Metairie
Louisiana
15
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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $105k less ($184,600 vs $289,800)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Metairie by $12,960/yr
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.3%)
Metairie, LA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Households earn $12,960 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 34°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$105k less
$184,600 vs $289,800
Metairie
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$12,960
$72,070 vs $59,110/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
56% lower
390.1 vs 877.9 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $289,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,120 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $72,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 140,046 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Metairie leads 15 of 22 categories. Indianapolis wins 7 and Metairie wins 15. 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 Indianapolis to Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $289,800 median home), income ($59,110 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Metairie, LA are about 713 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.