Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Shreveport, LA
VS
Tallahassee, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Shreveport
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183
Tallahassee
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.3
Median Household Income
$52,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,259 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($168,900 vs $256,400)
Rent averages $220/mo less ($945 vs $1,165)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Tallahassee
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tallahassee by $6,932/yr
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.5%)
Tallahassee, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (6.5%)
More college-educated — 49.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,932 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 58°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Shreveport
Key Differences at a Glance
Shreveport
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 95.3 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$88k less
$168,900 vs $256,400
Tallahassee
Median Income
$6,932
$52,899 vs $45,967/yr
Tallahassee
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
6.5% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Shreveport, LA | Tallahassee, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper | 95.3 |
| Median Home Value | $168,900 ✓ Lower | $256,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $945 ✓ Lower | $1,165 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $45,967 | $52,899 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 270⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 323⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.6% | 49.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Caddo Parish | LEON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.4°F | 63.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" ✓ Drier | 57.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,183 | 198,259 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 27.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 16.7% |
| Over 65 | 17.1% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Shreveport's cost of living index is 87.1 vs Tallahassee's 95.3 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Shreveport wins 10 and Tallahassee wins 10. 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 Tallahassee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,900 vs $256,400 median home), income ($45,967 vs $52,899), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Shreveport, LA and Tallahassee, FL are about 579 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.