Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Shreveport, LA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Shreveport leads 15 of 23 categories
Shreveport
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $255k less ($168,900 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $581/mo less ($945 vs $1,526)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $36,971/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 6.1%)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $36,971 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Shreveport
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Shreveport
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$255k less
$168,900 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$36,971
$82,938 vs $45,967/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
68% lower
394.4 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Sparks
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Shreveport, LA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,900 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $945 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $45,967 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 270⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 323⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.6% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Caddo Parish | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,183 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.1% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Shreveport's cost of living index is 87.1 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Shreveport leads 15 of 23 categories. Shreveport wins 15 and Sparks 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 Shreveport to Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,900 vs $423,500 median home), income ($45,967 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Shreveport, LA and Sparks, NV are about 1,523 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.