Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Metairie leads 17 of 22 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
San Bernardino
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
57% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
17% cheaper overall cost of living than San Bernardino
Homes cost $57k less ($289,800 vs $347,100)
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,319)
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Metairie
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Median income trails Metairie by $10,747/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$10,747
$72,070 vs $61,323/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
57% lower
390.1 vs 897.1 per 100k
Metairie
Median Home Value
$57k less
$289,800 vs $347,100
Metairie
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 91.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | San Bernardino, 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 | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,319 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Metairie leads 17 of 22 categories. Metairie wins 17 and San Bernardino wins 5. 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $347,100 median home), income ($72,070 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and San Bernardino, CA are about 1,608 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.