Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Shreveport, LA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 12 of 23 categories
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
Sunnyvale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $1512k less ($168,900 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $2045/mo less ($945 vs $2,990)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $128,539/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 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $128,539 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Shreveport
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Shreveport
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$1512k less
$168,900 vs $1,680,700
Shreveport
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$128,539
$174,506 vs $45,967/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
80% lower
244.5 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Shreveport, LA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,900 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $945 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $45,967 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 270⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 323⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.6% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Caddo Parish | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,183 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 17.1% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Shreveport's cost of living index is 87.1 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 12 of 23 categories. Shreveport wins 11 and Sunnyvale 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 Shreveport to Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,900 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($45,967 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Shreveport, LA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,629 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.