Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
Minneapolis
Minnesota
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 22°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.3%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Homes cost $39k less ($289,800 vs $328,700)
Rent averages $147/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,267)
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Minneapolis by $4,262/yr
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Households earn $4,262 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Metairie
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Violent Crime
66% lower
390.1 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Metairie
Median Home Value
$39k less
$289,800 vs $328,700
Metairie
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$4,262
$76,332 vs $72,070/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories. Metairie wins 16 and Minneapolis wins 7. 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 Metairie to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $328,700 median home), income ($72,070 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,048 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.