Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Metairie leads 15 of 23 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
60% less violent crime than South Bend
Households earn $23,014 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 32°F
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
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $176k less ($113,800 vs $289,800)
Rent averages $185/mo less ($935 vs $1,120)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Metairie by $23,014/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.3%)
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Median Income
$23,014
$72,070 vs $49,056/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
60% lower
390.1 vs 965.0 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 83.0°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 91.1 on the COL index
South Bend
Median Home Value
$176k less
$113,800 vs $289,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 40.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 15 of 23 categories. Metairie wins 15 and South Bend 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 South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $113,800 median home), income ($72,070 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and South Bend, IN are about 836 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.