Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Raleigh, NC
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Shreveport leads 12 of 23 categories
Raleigh
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Shreveport
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $32,664 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($168,900 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $426/mo less ($945 vs $1,371)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $32,664/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 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Raleigh
Median Income
$32,664
$78,631 vs $45,967/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
60% lower
488.8 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$178k less
$168,900 vs $347,000
Shreveport
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $347,000⚠ High | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,371⚠ High | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,631 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.1% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.1" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.5" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 465,517 ✓ Larger | 186,183 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.1% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Raleigh's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Shreveport leads 12 of 23 categories. Raleigh wins 11 and Shreveport wins 12. 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 Raleigh to Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,000 vs $168,900 median home), income ($78,631 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Raleigh, NC and Shreveport, LA are about 896 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.