Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palmdale, CA
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Palmdale leads 12 of 23 categories
Palmdale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
166,895
Shreveport
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,447 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (7.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Shreveport
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($168,900 vs $397,500)
Rent averages $680/mo less ($945 vs $1,625)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 26.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Cons
Median income trails Palmdale by $32,447/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 7.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Palmdale
Median Income
$32,447
$78,414 vs $45,967/yr
Palmdale
Violent Crime
55% lower
551.0 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Palmdale
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
7.4% vs 9.2% unemployment
Palmdale
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 94.3°F
Shreveport
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$229k less
$168,900 vs $397,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palmdale, CA | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $397,500⚠ High | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,625⚠ High | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,414 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.3 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (59) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.7% | 26.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 87.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Palmdale Elementary | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 7.3" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 166,895 | 186,183 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.0 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 29.0% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palmdale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palmdale leads 12 of 23 categories. Palmdale wins 12 and Shreveport wins 11. 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 Palmdale to Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($397,500 vs $168,900 median home), income ($78,414 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palmdale, CA and Shreveport, LA are about 1,405 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.