Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 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
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,036 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
110,358
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Homes cost $424k less ($289,800 vs $714,000)
Rent averages $822/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,942)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $23,966/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $23,966 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Metairie
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Metairie
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Home Value
$424k less
$289,800 vs $714,000
Metairie
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 4.9% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
18.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$23,966
$96,036 vs $72,070/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Violent Crime
9% lower
354.5 vs 390.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 41.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 18.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Metairie leads 13 of 22 categories. Metairie wins 13 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) 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 San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $714,000 median home), income ($72,070 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 1,721 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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