node.js is often "just in time" compiled, like Java. As such it runs use native machine instructions. It is not interpreted like Python. Compared to Python it screams.
You can also compile node.js into a native "program" on Windows, Mac, Linux. I think you can also create Smartphone apps with it as well.
node.js is best suited for "event" based programming (aka "this" happens so do "that"), such as when processing location analytics, MV analytics, MQTT, etc.
node.js uses JSON natively, so it makes it super easy when working with APIs like Meraki that also use JSON. There is no "conversion".
Python is quite good when yoiu have a sequential series of steps to perform. Such as do "this", then "this" and lastly "that" and if "x" then "y".
Python doesn't support JSON natively. So you have to convert in and out of JSON when talking to APIs like Meraki. However this is relatively simple thanks to a json library.