Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Households earn $17,466 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New Bedford, MA
Pros
9% less violent crime than Metairie
Rent averages $94/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,120)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Metairie by $17,466/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.3%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Metairie
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$17,466
$72,070 vs $54,604/yr
Metairie
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.2% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Violent Crime
9% lower
353.2 vs 390.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories. Metairie wins 16 and New Bedford 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 New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $291,300 median home), income ($72,070 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and New Bedford, MA are about 1,341 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.