Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 16 of 22 categories
Memphis
Tennessee
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Metairie
Louisiana
16
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.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($139,600 vs $289,800)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Metairie by $23,980/yr
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.3%)
Metairie, LA
Pros
84% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $23,980 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 51°F
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Median Home Value
$150k less
$139,600 vs $289,800
Metairie
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$23,980
$72,070 vs $48,090/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
84% lower
390.1 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $289,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,120 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $72,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 140,046 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Metairie leads 16 of 22 categories. Memphis wins 6 and Metairie wins 16. 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 Memphis to Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $289,800 median home), income ($48,090 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Metairie, LA are about 353 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.