Home of Mardi Gras, beignets, and the French Quarter, New Orleans, LA, is one of the most iconic cities in the Gulf Coast region. With views of Lake Pontchartrain, a one-of-a-kind food scene, and countless ways to spend your time, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that roughly 390,000 people live in New Orleans.
The Big Easy is a great place to consider living in, so if you’re looking to buy a home in New Orleans, know that the housing market is not very competitive and the median home sale price is $360,000. And if you’re looking to rent a two-bedroom apartment in New Orleans, the average rent price is $2,247.
Don’t worry if those numbers don’t fit in your budget – we’ve got options to help you find a home that does. We’ve collected the 10 most affordable New Orleans suburbs to consider moving to. And the best part is that they’re all less than 50 minutes away from the city center. That way you’ll still be close enough to New Orleans to explore the city’s iconic neighborhoods and rich history without the price of living there.
#1: Bridge City
Median home price: $100,000
Driving distance from New Orleans: 15 minutes
Bridge City, LA homes for sale
Bridge City, LA apartments for rent
With a median home sale price that’s nearly $260K less than New Orleans, Bridge City is the most affordable New Orleans suburb on our list. Just about a 15-minute drive away from New Orleans, you won’t miss out on what the city has to offer. Living in Bridge City, you can spend time taking in the scenic views of the Mississippi River and the Huey P. Long Bridge.
#2: Waggaman (tie)
Median home price: $135,000
Driving distance from New Orleans: 20 minutes
Waggaman, LA homes for sale
Waggaman, LA apartments for rent
Waggaman is New Orleans’ second most affordable suburb. About 20 minutes away from downtown New Orleans, you’ll be exploring the French Quarter and grabbing a Po’boy sandwich to eat in no time. When living in this suburb of 11,000 people, you can also spend time exploring the Audubon Zoo and watching the riverboat cruises pass by.
#2: Paradis (tie)
Median home price: $135,000
Driving distance from New Orleans: 30 minutes
Paradis, LA homes for sale
Paradis, LA apartments for rent
Paradis ties Waggaman for our second spot, with a median home sale price of $135,000 and only a 30-minute drive away from NOLA. Even with a small population of about 1,500, there are plenty of quaint spots to visit in Paradis. If you find yourself moving here, make sure to enjoy the laid-back lifestyle and explore Salvador Wildlife Management Area’s marshland.
#4: Westwego
Median home price: $145,000
Driving distance from New Orleans: 15 minutes
Westwego, LA homes for sale
Westwego, LA apartments for rent
A little more expensive than Paradis is none other than Westwego. With roughly 8,000 residents living in this New Orleans suburb, make sure to explore Bayou Segnette State Park and enjoy a picnic or plan to spend the night camping under the stars. Only 15 minutes away from downtown New Orleans, you can easily plan an evening in the city, whether you’re looking to try a new restaurant or see a show.
#5: North Vacherie
Median home price: $150,000
Driving distance from New Orleans: 50 minutes
North Vacherie, LA homes for sale
North Vacherie, LA apartments for rent
About a 50-minute drive into the city, consider adding North Vacherie to your list of New Orleans suburbs to consider living in. Home to 1,900 residents, this affordable town can be a great choice for people looking for the suburban Louisiana lifestyle without being too far away from New Orleans. Living in North Vacherie, you’ll find Magnolia Park and have access to all of the charming towns in St. James Parish.
#6: LaPlace
Median home price: $162,750
Driving distance from New Orleans: 35 minutes
LaPlace, LA homes for sale
LaPlace, LA apartments for rent
Another well-known New Orleans suburb is LaPlace, where you’ll find the home prices are about $200K less than in New Orleans. With just about 30,000 people living in LaPlace, it’s a great suburb to consider renting or buying a house in. From Thomas F. Daley Memorial Park to favorite local restaurants, you won’t get tired of this great suburb.
#7: Avondale
Median home price: $170,000
Driving distance from New Orleans: 20 minutes
Avondale, LA homes for sale
Avondale, LA apartments for rent
Next on our list of affordable New Orleans suburbs is Avondale, which is about 20 minutes away from the city center. With a population of nearly 5,500, living in Avondale is a great alternative to New Orleans’s hustle and bustle. If you find yourself moving to this suburb, make sure to visit NOLA Motorsports Park and go bass fishing at Lake Cataouatche.
#8: Violet
Median home price: $220,000
Driving distance from New Orleans: 25 minutes
Violet, LA homes for sale
Violet, LA apartments for rent
If you’ve lived in or around New Orleans for a while, you may know our eighth suburb – Violet. About 5,800 people reside in Violet, so you’ll have a mere fraction of New Orleans’s population while remaining close to the city and its attractions. Make sure to visit the Audubon Wilderness Park once you move to Violet.
#9: Chalmette
Median home price: $245,000
Driving distance from New Orleans: 20 minutes
Chalmette, LA homes for sale
Chalmette, LA apartments for rent
Chalmette is a great place to consider moving to that will get you access to downtown New Orleans in just about 20 minutes. Close to 24,000 people live in this suburb, but you’ll find lots of outdoor activities in Chalmette. Popular things to do in Chalmette include exploring Chalmette Battlefield, spending a sunny afternoon at Sidney D Torres Memorial Park, or seeing the local wildlife at 40 Arpent Wetlands Observatory.
#10: Estelle
Median home price: $250,000
Driving distance from New Orleans: 20 minutes
Estelle, LA homes for sale
Estelle, LA apartments for rent
Claiming the 10th spot on our list of affordable New Orleans suburbs is Estelle. If you’re lucky to avoid traffic, it’ll only take about 20 minutes to drive into New Orleans. This suburb has a population of 18,000 and is home to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve where you may just be lucky enough to see an alligator or two. There are plenty of other places to check out an afternoon or weekend while living in Estelle.
Methodology:
Affordability is based on whether a suburb is less than the median sale price of New Orleans and under a 50-minute drive from downtown New Orleans. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during April 2022. Average rental data from Rent.com May 2022. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau.
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