Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Metairie leads 14 of 22 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
Salt Lake City
Utah
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($289,800 vs $458,600)
55% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 40°F
Rent averages $134/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,254)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Salt Lake City
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Metairie
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Violent Crime
55% lower
390.1 vs 864.2 per 100k
Metairie
Median Home Value
$169k less
$289,800 vs $458,600
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,254 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Metairie leads 14 of 22 categories. Metairie wins 14 and Salt Lake City wins 8. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $458,600 median home), income ($72,070 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Salt Lake City, UT are about 1,428 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.