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Living in
Metairie.
Metairie is an unincorporated community in Jefferson Parish, LA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Metairie
If you're considering a move to the New Orleans area, Metairie offers a more affordable, family-oriented alternative to living in the city proper while staying connected to everything that makes Greater New Orleans appealing. With a median home price around $327,500 and median household income of $73,256, it's genuinely accessible for middle-class families—you're getting more space and a lower cost of living than you'd find across the 17th Street Canal in New Orleans. The job market is solid with a 3.9% unemployment rate, and the Saints and Pelicans training facilities are headquartered here, which speaks to the area's economic stability and brings some interesting local energy.
Metairie at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.5%
Foreign-Born
14.0%
Broadband Internet
90.5%
of households
Population Growth
-2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.0% foreign-born, most often from Honduras
Who lives in Metairie: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Metairie, the largest foreign-born group is from Honduras (27.0%), and 13.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.8%
of residents
65 and Older
21.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.7%
of households
Married Couples
40.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.27
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 10% above LA average
Rent, home values, and income in Metairie
In Metairie, rent runs 10% above the LA average, and home values are 51% above the LA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,814
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $318,581 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for LA
Unemployment in Metairie and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Jefferson Parish, which includes Metairie, is close to the LA average.
Unemployment rate
Metairie: Jefferson Parish rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Jefferson Parish (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Metairie Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area
Commute21.7 min avg
How Metairie residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Metairie, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Medium hub6.2M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 20% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, which covers Metairie, runs 20% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
263.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,921.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersFlash Flood most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jefferson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jefferson Parish, which includes Metairie, the most common type is flash flood, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Flash Flood | $39,500 |
| 2024 | 15 | Flash Flood | $42.6M |
| 2023 | 36 | Excessive Heat | $22,500 |
| 2022 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $51.0M |
| 2021 | 13 | Flash Flood | $1000.9M |
| 2020 | 13 | Storm Surge/Tide | $25.1M |
| 2019 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jefferson Parish, county-wide
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson Parish, which includes Metairie, is typically good — 227 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
47
Good Days
227
per year
Moderate Days
137
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Jefferson Parish, county-wide
Climate93°F summers, 49°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Metairie has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and warm winters (avg low 49°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
81°/62°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/76°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
82°/64°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
66°/49°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
68.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
106
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
4
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
84
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64°F | 47°F | 4.95" |
| Feb | 68°F | 51°F | 4.14" |
| Mar | 75°F | 56°F | 4.60" |
| Apr | 81°F | 62°F | 4.99" |
| May | 88°F | 69°F | 5.39" |
| Jun | 93°F | 75°F | 7.37" |
| Jul | 94°F | 77°F | 8.77" |
| Aug | 94°F | 77°F | 6.80" |
| Sep | 90°F | 74°F | 5.72" |
| Oct | 83°F | 65°F | 3.58" |
| Nov | 73°F | 55°F | 3.78" |
| Dec | 66°F | 49°F | 4.51" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Metairie
Metairie has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
9.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
East Jefferson General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Omega Hospital, Llc
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Ochsner Medical Center Acute
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.9 mi away · New Orleans
River Oaks Hospital
Psychiatric · 3.7 mi away · New Orleans
Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 4.4 mi away · New Orleans
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Metairie
Metairie's student/teacher ratio is 16.2:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 41.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
19
within city limits
Private Schools
21
within city limits
College Degree Rate
41.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Metairie
Herzing University-New Orleans
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 346 students · in-state tuition $13,820 · 34% graduate · median earnings $44,255 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Tulane University of Louisiana
3.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 7,767 students · in-state tuition $71,998 · 79% graduate · median earnings $68,226 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 4,638 students · in-state tuition $9,472 · 46% graduate · median earnings $53,518 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,812 students · in-state tuition $51,664 · 66% graduate · median earnings $59,326 (10 yrs after entry)
Xavier University of Louisiana
3.1 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,628 students · in-state tuition $30,298 · 52% graduate · median earnings $59,737 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,063 students · in-state tuition $23,918 · 47% graduate · median earnings $43,728 (10 yrs after entry)
Southern University at New Orleans
6.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 1,055 students · in-state tuition $8,410 · 28% graduate · median earnings $42,300 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Metairie
Metairie has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
National Historical Park
5 mi awayJean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
National Historical Park and Preserve
12 mi awayPublic Libraries in Metairie
Jefferson Parish Library
4747 West Napoleon Avenue, Metairie
Charles A. Wagner Branch
6646 Riverside Drive, Metairie
Lakeshore Branch
1000 West Esplanade Avenue, Metairie
Old Metairie Branch
2350 Metairie Road, Metairie
Cities Near Metairie
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Metairie?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Metairie FAQ
Is Metairie, Louisiana affordable?⌄
Metairie's median rent is $1,175/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $73,042/year. Median home value is $327,500.
Is Metairie, Louisiana safe?⌄
Metairie is policed by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 263 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1921 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Metairie, Louisiana?⌄
Jefferson Parish, which includes Metairie, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Metairie, Louisiana?⌄
The cost of living in Metairie is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,175/month and median household income is $73,042/year. The median home value is $327,500. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Metairie, Louisiana?⌄
The average commute in Metairie is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from