Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Metairie leads 18 of 23 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
Paterson
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
60% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Households earn $19,978 more per year on average
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Rent averages $272/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,392)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Median income trails Metairie by $19,978/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Metairie
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$19,978
$72,070 vs $52,092/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
60% lower
390.1 vs 978.6 per 100k
Metairie
Median Home Value
$24k less
$289,800 vs $314,100
Metairie
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 10.5% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $314,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 49.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 18 of 23 categories. Metairie wins 18 and Paterson wins 5. 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 Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $314,100 median home), income ($72,070 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Paterson, NJ are about 1,172 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.