Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 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
St. Paul
Minnesota
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
37% less violent crime than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 24°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $25k less ($264,900 vs $289,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Metairie
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$2,151
$72,070 vs $69,919/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
37% lower
390.1 vs 617.7 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$25k less
$264,900 vs $289,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ 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) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories. Metairie wins 16 and St. Paul 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $264,900 median home), income ($72,070 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and St. Paul, MN are about 1,045 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.