Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Metairie leads 17 of 23 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
40% less violent crime than Redding
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.3%)
Homes cost $53k less ($289,800 vs $343,000)
Rent averages $158/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,278)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Redding
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Redding, CA
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $343,000
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Metairie
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$4,747
$72,070 vs $67,323/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
40% lower
390.1 vs 647.8 per 100k
Metairie
Median Home Value
$53k less
$289,800 vs $343,000
Metairie
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Redding
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 91.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $343,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,278 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 ✓ Higher | $67,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 41.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 38.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 19.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 17 of 23 categories. Metairie wins 17 and Redding 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $343,000 median home), income ($72,070 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Redding, CA are about 1,943 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.