Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Metairie
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Rent averages $306/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,426)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than New Braunfels
Cons
Median income trails New Braunfels by $13,757/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
60% less violent crime than Metairie
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,757 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Metairie
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
New Braunfels
Median Income
$13,757
$85,827 vs $72,070/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
60% lower
156.4 vs 390.1 per 100k
New Braunfels
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 93.7 |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $290,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $85,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 38.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 61.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 35.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Metairie wins 11 and New Braunfels wins 11. 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 Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $290,800 median home), income ($72,070 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and New Braunfels, TX are about 476 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.