Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 15 of 23 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
Shreveport
Louisiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Shreveport
Households earn $26,103 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Shreveport
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($168,900 vs $289,800)
Rent averages $175/mo less ($945 vs $1,120)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Metairie
Cons
Median income trails Metairie by $26,103/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Median Income
$26,103
$72,070 vs $45,967/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
68% lower
390.1 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 91.1 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$121k less
$168,900 vs $289,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 51.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 186,183 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 17.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 15 of 23 categories. Metairie wins 15 and Shreveport 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $168,900 median home), income ($72,070 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Shreveport, LA are about 273 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.