Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Metairie leads 14 of 23 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
Montgomery
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Montgomery
Households earn $17,904 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($141,900 vs $289,800)
Rent averages $94/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,120)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Metairie by $17,904/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Median Income
$17,904
$72,070 vs $54,166/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
34% lower
390.1 vs 594.6 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.2% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 91.1 on the COL index
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$148k less
$141,900 vs $289,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 54.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 14 of 23 categories. Metairie wins 14 and Montgomery wins 9. 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 Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $141,900 median home), income ($72,070 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Montgomery, AL are about 282 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.