Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 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
Rancho Cucamonga
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
174,696 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Homes cost $368k less ($289,800 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $1064/mo less ($1,120 vs $2,184)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Rancho Cucamonga
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $33,464/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,464 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Metairie
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 63°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Metairie
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Home Value
$368k less
$289,800 vs $657,400
Metairie
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$33,464
$105,534 vs $72,070/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
25% lower
293.7 vs 390.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Metairie wins 11 and Rancho Cucamonga 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 Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $657,400 median home), income ($72,070 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 1,624 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.