Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Metairie leads 13 of 23 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Rent averages $81/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,201)
Households earn $4,724 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.0%)
Nampa, ID
Pros
9% less violent crime than Metairie
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Metairie by $4,724/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Metairie
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$4,724
$72,070 vs $67,346/yr
Nampa
Violent Crime
9% lower
353.1 vs 390.1 per 100k
Nampa
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.0% vs 4.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 | $289,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,201 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 ✓ Higher | $67,346 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 13 of 23 categories. Metairie wins 13 and Nampa 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 Metairie to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $289,400 median home), income ($72,070 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Nampa, ID are about 1,724 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.