Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Port St. Lucie, FL
🏆 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
Port St. Lucie
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
210,520 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Rent averages $564/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,684)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Port St. Lucie
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Port St. Lucie by $2,970/yr
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
70% less violent crime than Metairie
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 63°F
Households earn $2,970 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,684/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Metairie
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.3%)
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 101.7 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Port St. Lucie
Median Income
$2,970
$75,040 vs $72,070/yr
Port St. Lucie
Violent Crime
70% lower
116.7 vs 390.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Port St. Lucie, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $292,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,684⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $75,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 33 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 26.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | ST. LUCIE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 60.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 210,520 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 43.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 21.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Port St. Lucie's 101.7 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Metairie wins 11 and Port St. Lucie 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 Port St. Lucie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $292,900 median home), income ($72,070 vs $75,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Port St. Lucie, FL are about 622 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.