The best places to live in New Orleans
There are neighbourhoods in New Orleans to suit almost anyone. Artists and creatives gravitate to bohemian Bywater, and couples and active retirees favour the oak-lined Garden District.
House-hunting here takes some thought, and it can feel daunting trying to find the perfect place. Weigh up your budget, nearby amenities, proximity to work and schools, and the kind of lifestyle you want before you settle on an area.
Here are our picks for some of the best areas and suburbs in New Orleans.
City living in New Orleans
Marigny/Bywater
Marigny and Bywater are adjacent neighbourhoods known for their art scene. You’ll find local galleries, low-key live music venues, craft markets, and street murals throughout. Eating out is a highlight too, and you can find anything from trendy eateries to humble soul food spots, so foodies can take their pick.
Distinctive Creole cottages, a style of home strongly associated with New Orleans, can be seen along many of the streets. Both areas have gentrified over the past two decades. There’s still a young, creative crowd that calls them home, but both neighbourhoods have changed a good deal as rents have risen and short-term rentals have spread.
Uptown/Garden District
The Garden District is leafy and elegant. The streets are shaded by old magnolia trees, and there’s an aroma of jasmine that hangs in the air. Between the grand 19th-century mansions and the quiet, walkable blocks, it’s one of the most sought-after places to live in New Orleans.
Uptown has sophisticated bars, smart restaurants, trendy coffee shops, and independent boutiques, so residents rarely need to go far. The community is diverse, from recent grads to retirees, and it has an overall liberal, welcoming feel. It’s a good place to start your time in New Orleans.
Gentilly/New Orleans East
Gentilly and New Orleans East are less well-known parts of the city, and they’re often overlooked by newcomers. They are particularly popular with families as well as young couples looking to get a foot on the property ladder. The area used to be known for its ubiquitous shotgun homes, but many modern houses have gone up since Hurricane Katrina destroyed a lot of the existing structures in 2005.
The communities here are ethnically diverse and well established. New Orleans East has long been home to large African American and Vietnamese populations, and you’ll find a real depth of culture in everything from the festivals to the food.
Finding Accommodation in New Orleans
Lifestyle in New Orleans
Getting Around in New Orleans
Family-friendly areas in New Orleans
Algiers Point
In Algiers Point, new arrivals can slow down and take things at an easier pace. Algiers Point is across the Mississippi River on the West Bank, and it feels a world away from the tourist-heavy centre.
You can take the Canal Street ferry across to downtown in a few minutes, so it’s easy to settle into a quiet, historic pocket and still reach the French Quarter when you want to. It used to have a flourishing jazz scene, but the pace is slower than in the centre. Confetti Park is a popular gathering spot for locals, and you can find Victorian and Creole houses all along the streets.
Audubon
Audubon is one of the most popular residential neighbourhoods in New Orleans, named after the large park at its heart. It’s also known as the ‘University District’, since Tulane and Loyola Universities are right here, and there’s a large student population here and nearby. Families are drawn to the area for Audubon Park, the zoo, well-regarded schools, and easy access to both universities.
Homes here tend to be large and full of character, although Audubon is one of the pricier parts of the city. That said, new arrivals still value the strong community feeling.
Lakeview
Lakeview is a large, family-friendly neighbourhood near Lake Pontchartrain, and one of the more popular places in the city to raise a family. It has a quieter, more suburban feel than much of New Orleans. Wide streets and newer homes are the norm, many of which were rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina. There’s a strong community feel.
City Park is right next to Lakeview, so residents have the Besthoff Sculpture Garden on their doorstep. Families also have Storyland, a storybook playground, and the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park close by. For shopping, restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, Harrison Avenue is the heart of the neighbourhood.