Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 14 of 22 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046 ✓ Larger
Rochester
Minnesota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 23°F
Rent averages $98/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,218)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $11,903/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rochester, MN
Pros
61% less violent crime than Metairie
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $11,903 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Metairie
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 93.1 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Median Income
$11,903
$83,973 vs $72,070/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
61% lower
154.0 vs 390.1 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$21k less
$268,800 vs $289,800
Rochester
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 93.1 |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,218 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 ✓ Larger | 120,848 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 14 of 22 categories. Metairie wins 8 and Rochester wins 14. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $268,800 median home), income ($72,070 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Rochester, MN are about 977 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.