New Orleans attracts people from all walks of life for its southern charm and boisterous and vibrant atmosphere. The NOLA area is populated by 1.3 million people who love to be close to the New Orleans energy. If you’re looking to buy a piece of New Orleans real estate, but are considering a neighboring city, here are some of the 5 best suburbs of New Orleans.
Arabi
Best Suburb of New Orleans for: Commuting
Sitting on the banks of the Mississippi River, to the east of New Orleans proper, is the small town of Arabi, with a population of 4,500. Arabi is one of the fastest growing suburbs in the country with developing neighborhoods of The Heights and Carolyn Park leading the charge in the growth of Arabi real estate.
Since Arabi is still such a small town, residents usually seek entertainment in New Orleans or shopping amenities in Chalmette. Thankfully, Arabi is centrally located and it is only about a 10-minute drive to the French Quarter / Downtown New Orleans and Chalmette.
The median home price in Arabi is $340K. The vast majority of homes for sale in Arabi are single-family homes that were built from the ‘40s to ‘70s. With that being said, there are more and more new construction homes for sale in Arabi on the market that reflect traditional southern homes seen in the New Orleans real estate.
Covington
Best Suburb of New Orleans for: Rural Living
About 41 miles north, or roughly an hour from the French Quarter is the suburb of Covington, with just over 10K people. Covington is known for its hip downtown area that has some resemblance to the famous French Quarter in New Orleans, with its French architecture, art studios, museums, fun shops, and cool restaurants. This is a more rural community since it’s near the outskirts of the NOLA area, but there are a couple of popular neighborhoods in the Covington real estate.
- Tammany Terrace – Custom homes on 1-acre +/- lots.
- Southdown – Luxury homes with all the bells and whistles.
Just about all of the homes for sale in Covington are single-family homes, primarily built from the ‘70s till now, with several new construction homes on the market today. There are a few homes that are pre-1970s too. Over half of the homes in Covington have three bedrooms, though two- and four-bedroom homes are common. There are a few condos in Covington and can range from $140K to $220K. The median home price in Covington is about $320K.
Belle Chasse
Best Suburb of New Orleans for: Families + Close to the water
Southeast of New Orleans and on the west bank of the Mississippi River is Belle Chasse, with a population of around 15K. Belle Chasse is also home to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base and is known for being a very military-friendly town and a great place to raise a family since it is a part of one of the best school districts in the NOLA area. You’ll also find a lot of cajun creole culture that southern Louisiana is known for.
Most of the real estate in Belle Chasse are three- and four-bedroom single-family homes in subdivisions. You’ll typically find wide streets and huge front and back yards, whether it’s an older, established neighborhood or a newer one. Some homes date back to the 1940s, though a lot of homes were built between the ‘70s to ‘90s, and even some newer homes built since the early 2000s. The median price of homes for sale in Belle Chasse is around $366K.
River Ridge
Best Suburb of New Orleans for: Families
To the west of New Orleans and along the north side of the Mississippi River is the established city of River Ridge, with a population of about 14K. River Ridge is one of the best suburbs in New Orleans for families because of its schools and activities. Some of the extra-curricular activities include swimming and tennis at the Paradise Manor Community Club or kids’ baseball with teams that may just go on to win the Little League World Series. There’s also plenty of shopping and restaurants close by for convenience.
Many of the homes are in established neighborhoods with mature tree-lined streets and clean-cut yards. The River Ridge real estate market is tight with three-bedroom single-family homes dominating the market. Though you can find fixer-uppers under $200K, the median price of homes for sale in River Ridge is about $390K.
Mandeville
Best Suburb of New Orleans for: Families + Commuters
Situated north of New Orleans, on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, is Mandeville with a population of around 13K. Mandeville is known as an ideal place for families because of its quiet suburban neighborhoods, great schools, and a prime location near the Causeway that leads into downtown New Orleans. Some of the popular places to pass the time in Mandeville are:
- Mandeville Front – a walking park along the water’s edge.
- Mandeville Trailhead – An event center for big events, local bands, and is the location for the farmers market.
A majority of Mandeville real estate is single-family homes with two to four bedrooms, though you will find several condos and a few townhomes too. Homes for sale in Mandeville were constructed primarily from the ‘70s through the ‘90s, but there are still new construction homes available as well. The median home price in Mandeville is roughly $349K. Condos in Mandeville range from $90K to $475K, and townhomes start at $285K and top out around $960K.
Best Suburbs Around New Orleans
We hope you found this information helpful in learning about the 5 best suburbs of New Orleans. Whenever you’re ready to start the home-buying process, you’ll want to connect with a local New Orleans real estate agent to help you find the perfect home. Don’t hesitate to gather some questions to ask before hiring a real estate agent, so you can be sure to find an agent you like.
