8 Best Suburbs to Live Near New Orleans

Are you looking to call New Orleans home? Crescent City sure has a lot of character. You’ll live near its iconic locations like the French Quarter and Marginy-Bywater in town. But what if the thought of tourist crowds or the high housing prices of the Garden District is turning you off?

The good news is the festive Creole-flavored lifestyle extends beyond the city limits. Read on as we dive into some of the best places in the New Orleans metropolitan region to find your perfect home! These eight New Orleans suburbs include an affordable urban escape, an idyllic family-friendly neighborhood, and a fun weekend destination with tons of entertainment.

Harahan

One of Harahan’s advantages is its convenient location. About nine miles upriver from downtown New Orleans, Harahan is tucked into a bend in the Mississippi River. Major highways Interstate 10 and the Earhart Expressway are in its backdoor, making it appealing for those working in New Orleans or other neighboring areas.

Once you drop in from the highways, Harahan feels quiet and suburban even though it’s close to the city. Historic homes and buildings are shaded by 100-year-old oak and pecan trees. Residents get outside at parks like the Harahan Playground or along the scenic stretch of the Mississippi River levee that curves around the community.

The city hosts annual events like “Harahan Family Fest” and the Pecan Festival to engage its community and create that small-town atmosphere inside the larger city. The community really matters here, and you’ll find residents that have lived most, if not all, their lives in Harahan. SafeWise ranks it the fourth safest city in Louisiana in 2023.

Some of the spacious single-family homes are steps from the water, but others are higher on a natural ridgeline. You’ll find cozy mid-century cottages and some newer-built homes in the neighborhood. Harahan had 56 homes for sale at a median list price of $400,000 in April 2023, a figure up 33% year-over-year and attesting to Harahan’s high demand.

Elmwood

Sitting next to Harahan, Elmwood is best known in the metro for Elmwood Shopping Center, an outdoor retail hub with national chains like TJ Maxx, Old Navy, and Bath & Body Works. Find all you need for your pets, sports, and special occasion shopping.

Elmwood is a mixture of commercial and residential areas outside the shopping center. For those that live in this census-designated place, easy access to places of work and a convenient commute are some of its perks. In April 2023, it had 13 homes for sale at a median of $362,000 in April 2023, up 44% year-over-year.

Metairie

New Orleans’ largest suburb lies to its west, about eight miles from downtown. Its prime location in the New Orleans metro gives it a bucket list of amenities: easy commute, premium shopping, parks, and excellent schools.

One reason people visit Metairie is its prime shopping at the Lakeside Shopping Center, a large shopping mall with national chains and local small businesses. But for residents, it’s in their backyard whenever they want to treat the family to Cheesecake Factory or check out the latest fashions from Macy’s, Madewell, or Michael Kors. The mall also has a kids’ play space and puts on events during the year.

Metairie compliments indoor entertainment with pocket parks, but the largest and most well-known is Lafrenière Park, which features walking trails, a lake, and picnic areas. Locals bring their four-footed family members to its dog park for some off-leash fun.

And Metairie includes some essential providers that service not just the city, but New Orleans, like East Jefferson General Hospital. For education, Metairie has public schools run by the Jefferson Parish School District, public charters, and a selection of private schools.

Housing in Metairie is a diverse mix of residential neighborhoods. In May 2023, the median list price of $350,000 was up almost 8% year-over-year. Learn more about some great places to live in Metairie.

Kenner

Keep heading west from New Orleans, and you’ll land in Kenner. Downtown is about ten miles away. The city borders stretch from Lake Pontchartrain in the north to the Mississippi River in the south. A levee separates Kenner from the bayous and flats, spreading to the west as far as the eye can see.

Residents of Kenner get prime access to Rivertown, a multi-block historic district with museums, theaters, and a planetarium right along the Mississippi Riverfront. Besides the museum, Rivertown has shopping, art galleries, and waterfront restaurants.

Travel frequently to cities and destinations beyond New Orleans? The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is in southern Kenner. You can’t fly out any faster than by living here.

For recreation, launch your boat onto the lake for a day of fishing or watersports. Or play golf at the Chateau Lakes Country Club, a members-only institution with 18 holes, nine tennis courts, dining venues, and social events.

Kenner has over 25 neighborhoods to check out. Home prices were at a median of $280,000 in May 2023, up 11% year-over-year.

Slidell

Another top city for safety, Slidell, is northeast of New Orleans across Lake Pontchartrain but connected through the I-10 and Highway 11 bridges. While not directly on the lakefront, it’s still known for its outdoor recreational opportunities because it’s so close to North Shore and Big Branch Marsh Wildlife Refuge.

Residents gain easy access to Lake Pontchartrain, as it’s just a few minutes to Eden Lake, the North Shore and its marinas, and the Marsh Wildlife Refuge. The marshes and Bayou Bonfouca spread to the southwest, providing opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-based activities.

But Slidell is also further inland with many sections on higher ground, so it has more park and recreation facilities. Heritage Park has walking trails, picnic areas, and a pavilion for community events, while John Slidell Park includes a sports field and a 1.5-mile trail. Pinewood Golf Club is a public club with 18 holes and a driving range.

Another perk to Slidell is its community-oriented atmosphere. The annual Slidell Heritage Festival in July and Old Towne Arts Evening in the spring showcase local artists, has live music, and adds a street fair for a jolly good time.

Slidell will still meet your daily needs with shopping centers like Fremaux Town Center, where a mix of national retailers and local service providers are based. The local dining establishments feature a variety of cuisines, including fresh seafood options caught nearby in the lake.

With around 30,000 residents and proximity to New Orleans, Slidell delivers a small-town feel while still being considered a suburb of the Big Easy. It had over 1,000 homes for sale at a median list price of $280,000 in April 2023.

Covington

Covington is another suburb across Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish. Downtown New Orleans is about 35 miles south through the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, so it’s a reasonable commuting distance for those who work in the city but prefer a quieter suburban lifestyle.

Covington charms with a picturesque historic downtown area, the St. Johns District, a grid-like collection of tree-lined streets, old buildings, and welcoming locals. Inside the old brick buildings are local boutiques like the historic Smith & Sons General Store, open since 1876, and restaurants like the one operated by the “King and Queen of Louisiana Seafood.” At the Covington Trailhead, residents gather for the weekly farmers’ market, live music events, and other recreational activities.

The arts thrive in Covington and not just in the fine art galleries of the downtown area. The Three Rivers Art Festival and the Rockin’ the Rails concert series are two highlights on the arts calendar.

Covington is known for its commitment to outdoor recreation spaces. For parks, the Covington Recreation Complex has playgrounds, sports fields, walking paths, and picnic areas. From Covington, residents can access the Tammany Trace, a scenic trail for walking, running, and biking.

In April 2023, the 700 homes for sale had a median list price of $342,000, which was up almost 9% year-over-year.

Belle Chasse

Want a more classic Cajun vibe? Head south from New Orleans to a quiet area of Belle Chasse on the west bank of the Mississippi River and home to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Plaquemines Parish.

Belle Chasse is surrounded by scenic waterways: the Mississippi River, Belle Chasse Bayou, and the Intracoastal Waterway. Residents have ample access to boating, fishing, and other water-based activities.

On land, locals have Cypress Park for playgrounds, sports fields, and picnic areas. The nearby Woodlands Trail and Park provide nature trails and bird-watching opportunities, allowing residents to further enjoy the area’s natural beauty.

Belle Chasse schools have a reputation for being of decent quality. Belle Chasse Academy, a K-8 school, serves military families and the public, and Belle Chasse High School is for grades 9-12.

You’ll typically find wide streets and huge front and back yards for housing. Some homes date back to the 1940s, though many homes were built between the ’70s and ’90s. In April 2023, the 115 homes for sale ended up with a median list price of $429,000.

Arabi

Although small, Arabi is a fast-growing area in the New Orleans metro. Located in St. Bernard Parish and tucked between the Lower Ninth Ward and Chalmette, Arabi radiates character. Locals have made significant efforts to preserve its distinctive architectural heritage.

The Palms Casino is nearby if you like gambling and sports betting, but residents usually seek entertainment in New Orleans or go to the shopping amenities in Chalmette. Luckily, Arabi is centrally located, and it is only about a 10-minute drive to the French Quarter, Downtown New Orleans, and Chalmette.

Residents can enjoy scenic views of the Mississippi River from the River Road levee and the newly developed scenic park with its Aycock Barn pavilion for outdoor recreation. The Sankofa Wetland Park and Nature Trail in north Arabi was designed to enhance flood protection in Arabi and the nearby Lower Ninth Ward.

The annual Old Arabi Sugar Fest celebrates the community’s sugar cane farming history with live music, food vendors, and family-friendly activities. Additionally, the area hosts regular art walks featuring local artisans.

Real estate includes historic cottages, shotgun houses, and newer residential developments. The historic districts are renowned for their beautifully and brightly painted homes. Arabi had a median price of $340,000, with 121 homes for sale in April 2023.

Living in New Orleans

As you have read, the New Orleans metropolitan area’s charming suburbs provide the benefits of living in the Big Easy without sacrificing your quality of life or positioning you in a busy tourist center. Besides the eight suburbs listed here, there are even more suburbs to uncover with a local real estate agent.