Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Metairie leads 16 of 22 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
Riverside
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($289,800 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $591/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,711)
34% less violent crime than Riverside
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.3%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $11,378/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $11,378 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 63°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Metairie
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Violent Crime
34% lower
390.1 vs 589.7 per 100k
Metairie
Median Home Value
$196k less
$289,800 vs $485,500
Metairie
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Median Income
$11,378
$83,448 vs $72,070/yr
Riverside
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 91.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Riverside, 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 | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Metairie leads 16 of 22 categories. Metairie wins 16 and Riverside 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $485,500 median home), income ($72,070 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Riverside, CA are about 1,613 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.