City Comparison
Kenner vs Zachary
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Zachary scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Kenner
Zachary
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Kenner is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
21% lower than in Zachary.
Housing costs are a major driver: Kenner's average rent is
30% lower than Zachary's.
| Metric | Kenner | Zachary | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,048 | $1,500 | -30% |
| Groceries | $400 | $450 | -11% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $120 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $250 | -8% |
| Monthly Total | $1,978 | $2,500 | -21% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 96 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Zachary offers 5% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Zachary delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Kenner is estimated at
$45,000 vs $55,000 in Zachary.
| Metric | Kenner | Zachary |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $45,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 67,391 idx | 67,708 idx |
| Household Income | $64,020 | $84,480 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Kenner runs warmer on average — a 71.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Kenner comes out ahead with 214 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Kenner sees 4.5 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Kenner | Zachary |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 71.30°F | °F |
| Summer High | 88.80°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 49.00°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 53.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 4.50 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 214 | |
| Humidity | 76.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Kenner has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
1,500 minutes (25 hours) per year compared to Zachary.
Zachary scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Zachary leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Kenner | Zachary |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 25 min | 28 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Walkability | 50.0/100 | 60.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Kenner is the larger city
— approximately 3.1x the population of Zachary.
From a growth perspective, Zachary is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Kenner has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Kenner | Zachary |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 64,904 | 20,842 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 1.07% |
| Median Age | 39.3 | 38.3 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 6.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Kenner
Advantages
Median home property values and average rents remain significantly lower than the national average, offering high housing affordability.
Strategic location adjacent to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and major transit corridors like I-10.
Abundant outdoor recreational amenities along Lake Pontchartrain, including the popular Laketown park and boat launch areas.
Rich cultural diversity and community heritage highlighted by historic Rivertown museums and local cuisine.
Active local economic development support from municipal and parish partnerships fostering small business growth.
Drawbacks
Vulnerability to severe weather events and tropical storms inherent to the South Louisiana geographic region.
Property insurance and automotive maintenance costs can run higher than national norms due to regional risk factors.
Certain commercial corridors experience heavy traffic congestion during peak commuting hours toward New Orleans.
Modest population decline trends over recent years reflect broader regional migration patterns in parts of the state.
Limited high-capacity public transit options make car ownership a practical necessity for daily commuting.
Zachary
Advantages
Zachary's median household income of $84,480 in 2024 is higher than the national average, indicating a strong economic base for its residents.
The city boasts a violent crime rate of 0.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 94% below the national average, making it a very safe place to live.
Housing costs in Zachary are 6% lower than the national average, contributing to a lower overall cost of living.
Lane Regional Medical Center, a 139-bed regional healthcare system established in 1960, provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services to Zachary and surrounding areas.
Zachary's public schools are highly rated, making it an attractive location for families seeking quality education for their children.
Drawbacks
The unemployment rate in Zachary stands at 6.8%, which is higher than the typical considered rate of 4% to 5%.
While Zachary has a lower violent crime rate, its property crime rate is 20 per one thousand population, which is considered above average when compared to all other communities in America of all population sizes.
Zachary's average rent of $1,500 per month is higher than the national average rent of $1,464 in the previous year, indicating a slight increase in rental costs.
The average commute time in Zachary is 27.7 minutes, which is longer than the national average commute time.
Zachary's median home value of $270,591 is higher than the national median home value of $251,418.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Kenner
#283Louisiana, USA
61.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,048
Avg Salary
$62,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
25 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
50.0/100
Sunny Days
214/yr
Avg Temp
71.30°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
73
Business
68
Zachary
#226Louisiana, USA
63.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,500
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
96
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
60.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.07%
Unemployment
6.80%
Livability
74
Business
68
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