Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach 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
Virginia Beach
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Rent averages $448/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,568)
Homes cost $54k less ($289,800 vs $343,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 50°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $15,474/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
76% less violent crime than Metairie
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,474 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Metairie
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Home Value
$54k less
$289,800 vs $343,700
Metairie
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$15,474
$87,544 vs $72,070/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
76% lower
92.3 vs 390.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 54.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 13 of 22 categories. Metairie wins 9 and Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $343,700 median home), income ($72,070 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 940 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.