Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
Springfield
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $24,393 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($198,500 vs $289,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Metairie by $24,393/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$24,393
$72,070 vs $47,677/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
56% lower
390.1 vs 891.4 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.7% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Median Home Value
$91k less
$198,500 vs $289,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 50.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories. Metairie wins 16 and Springfield wins 7. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $198,500 median home), income ($72,070 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Springfield, MA are about 1,288 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.