Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Indianapolis leads 13 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$59,110 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Shreveport
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
29% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $13,143 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Shreveport
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 34°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $101/mo less ($945 vs $1,046)
Homes cost $16k less ($168,900 vs $184,600)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Indianapolis
Cons
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Indianapolis by $13,143/yr
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Median Income
$13,143
$59,110 vs $45,967/yr
Indianapolis
Violent Crime
29% lower
877.9 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Indianapolis
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$16k less
$168,900 vs $184,600
Shreveport
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 87.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 186,183 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Indianapolis leads 13 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 13 and Shreveport wins 10. 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $168,900 median home), income ($59,110 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Shreveport, LA are about 661 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.