Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
Visalia
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
141,466 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
10% less violent crime than Visalia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Rent averages $169/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,289)
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Visalia
Homes cost $27k less ($289,800 vs $316,600)
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Visalia by $3,588/yr
Visalia, CA
Pros
Households earn $3,588 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Metairie
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.3%)
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 101.3 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Violent Crime
10% lower
390.1 vs 435.3 per 100k
Metairie
Median Home Value
$27k less
$289,800 vs $316,600
Metairie
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.6% unemployment
Visalia
Median Income
$3,588
$75,658 vs $72,070/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $316,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,289 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $75,658 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 55.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 141,466 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 16 of 23 categories. Metairie wins 16 and Visalia 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $316,600 median home), income ($72,070 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Visalia, CA are about 1,735 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.