Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Metairie leads 15 of 23 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046
Thornton
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Rent averages $638/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,758)
Homes cost $155k less ($289,800 vs $445,200)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $22,994/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Thornton, CO
Pros
30% less violent crime than Metairie
Households earn $22,994 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Metairie
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Home Value
$155k less
$289,800 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$22,994
$95,064 vs $72,070/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
30% lower
273.6 vs 390.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 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- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 15 of 23 categories. Metairie wins 15 and Thornton 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 Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $445,200 median home), income ($72,070 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Thornton, CO are about 1,079 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.