Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Riverview, FL
🏆 Metairie leads 13 of 22 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046 ✓ Larger
Riverview
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,383 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
102,467
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Rent averages $637/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,757)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.3%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverview
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails Riverview by $15,313/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Riverview, FL
Pros
66% less violent crime than Metairie
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,313 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 63°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,757/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Metairie
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.3%)
Longer commutes — 34.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
Riverview
Median Income
$15,313
$87,383 vs $72,070/yr
Riverview
Violent Crime
66% lower
131.1 vs 390.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Riverview, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $292,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,757⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $87,383 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 34.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 91.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 90.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 54.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 ✓ Larger | 102,467 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Riverview's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Metairie leads 13 of 22 categories. Metairie wins 13 and Riverview wins 9. 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 Riverview or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $292,700 median home), income ($72,070 vs $87,383), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Riverview, FL are about 499 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.