Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 16 of 22 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046
Scottsdale
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Homes cost $362k less ($289,800 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $648/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,768)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Scottsdale
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $32,127/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.5%)
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
61% less violent crime than Metairie
Households earn $32,127 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.5%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Metairie
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Home Value
$362k less
$289,800 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$32,127
$104,197 vs $72,070/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
61% lower
152.5 vs 390.1 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.5% vs 4.3% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 91.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 89 ✓ 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 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 21.5% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 16 of 22 categories. Metairie wins 6 and Scottsdale wins 16. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $651,800 median home), income ($72,070 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,295 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.