Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Metairie leads 12 of 22 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046 ✓ Larger
Simi Valley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Homes cost $414k less ($289,800 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1282/mo less ($1,120 vs $2,402)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $40,074/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Metairie
Households earn $40,074 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 63°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/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
$414k less
$289,800 vs $704,200
Simi Valley
Median Income
$40,074
$112,144 vs $72,070/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
67% lower
129.1 vs 390.1 per 100k
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 91.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Simi Valley, 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 | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 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 | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 41.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 16.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Metairie leads 12 of 22 categories. Metairie wins 12 and Simi Valley wins 10. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $704,200 median home), income ($72,070 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Simi Valley, CA are about 1,692 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.