Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Metairie leads 19 of 23 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Households earn $14,916 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $105/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,225)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 49°F
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $77k less ($213,300 vs $289,800)
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Metairie by $14,916/yr
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$14,916
$72,070 vs $57,154/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
48% lower
390.1 vs 752.4 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$77k less
$213,300 vs $289,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,225 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 50.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 19 of 23 categories. Metairie wins 19 and Portsmouth wins 4. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $213,300 median home), income ($72,070 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Portsmouth, VA are about 926 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.