Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Metairie, LA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Metairie leads 15 of 21 categories
Metairie
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046
Worcester
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Metairie, LA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Rent averages $192/mo less ($1,120 vs $1,312)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 32°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Households earn $9,059 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Worcester, MA
Pros
96% less violent crime than Metairie
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Metairie
Median income trails Metairie by $9,059/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.3%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Metairie
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Median Income
$9,059
$72,070 vs $63,011/yr
Metairie
Median Home Value
$16k less
$289,800 vs $305,600
Metairie
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Violent Crime
96% lower
16.5 vs 390.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Metairie, LA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,800 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,120 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,070 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.0% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Parish | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 48.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 140,046 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.8% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 21.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Metairie's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Metairie leads 15 of 21 categories. Metairie wins 15 and Worcester wins 6. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,800 vs $305,600 median home), income ($72,070 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Metairie, LA and Worcester, MA are about 1,325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.