Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 15 of 21 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
New Orleans
Louisiana
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
73% less violent crime than New Orleans
Households earn $20,954 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (4.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails Metairie by $20,954/yr
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Median Income
$20,954
$72,070 vs $51,116/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
73% lower
390.1 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.4% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 91.1 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 | 91.1 |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 | $281,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 88.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 61.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 60.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 49.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Metairie leads 15 of 21 categories. Metairie wins 15 and New Orleans wins 6. 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 Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $281,500 median home), income ($72,070 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and New Orleans, LA are about 15 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.