Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
140,046
Washington
District of Columbia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Homes cost $415k less ($289,800 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $697/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,817)
58% less violent crime than Washington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.3%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $29,652/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $29,652 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Metairie
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Violent Crime
58% lower
390.1 vs 925.9 per 100k
Metairie
Median Home Value
$415k less
$289,800 vs $705,000
Metairie
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$29,652
$101,722 vs $72,070/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 15 of 23 categories. Metairie wins 15 and Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $705,000 median home), income ($72,070 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Washington, DC are about 968 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.