Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Metairie leads 16 of 22 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Homes cost $1365k less ($289,800 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1107/mo less ($1,120 vs $2,227)
50% less violent crime than Santa Monica
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $34,727/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,727 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Metairie
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Violent Crime
50% lower
390.1 vs 778.0 per 100k
Metairie
Median Home Value
$1365k less
$289,800 vs $1,654,800
Metairie
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
22.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$34,727
$106,797 vs $72,070/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 62.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 42.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 18.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Metairie leads 16 of 22 categories. Metairie wins 16 and Santa Monica wins 6. 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($72,070 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Santa Monica, CA are about 1,677 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.