Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Rent averages $605/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,725)
Homes cost $90k less ($289,800 vs $379,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $22,292/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Richardson, TX
Pros
62% less violent crime than Metairie
Households earn $22,292 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Metairie
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Home Value
$90k less
$289,800 vs $379,800
Metairie
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Richardson
Median Income
$22,292
$94,362 vs $72,070/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
62% lower
146.7 vs 390.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Metairie wins 11 and Richardson 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $379,800 median home), income ($72,070 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Richardson, TX are about 436 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.