Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 13 of 22 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046
Surprise
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Rent averages $702/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,822)
Homes cost $63k less ($289,800 vs $352,600)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 105°F
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $15,686/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Surprise, AZ
Pros
72% less violent crime than Metairie
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,686 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Metairie
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Home Value
$63k less
$289,800 vs $352,600
Surprise
Median Income
$15,686
$87,756 vs $72,070/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
72% lower
109.1 vs 390.1 per 100k
Surprise
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 91.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 41.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 13 of 22 categories. Metairie wins 9 and Surprise wins 13. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $352,600 median home), income ($72,070 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Surprise, AZ are about 1,329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.