Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 14 of 22 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Homes cost $594k less ($289,800 vs $883,600)
Rent averages $1502/mo less ($1,120 vs $2,622)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $64,500/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $64,500 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Metairie
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 63°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Metairie
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Home Value
$594k less
$289,800 vs $883,600
Metairie
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$64,500
$136,570 vs $72,070/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
75% lower
99.2 vs 390.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Mission Viejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 14 of 22 categories. Metairie wins 8 and Mission Viejo wins 14. 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 Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $883,600 median home), income ($72,070 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Mission Viejo, CA are about 1,628 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.