No city is more magical than New Orleans. The arts, history, culture, entertainment, food, and shopping in New Orleans is unlike any other city in the world. If there’s one thing the Big Easy isn’t known for, it’s peace and quiet. Sometimes, you just want a more laid back place to come home to at night. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best places to live near New Orleans. In these 10 suburbs, residents get the best of both worlds.
Nestled along the Mississippi River is the quiet New Orleans suburb of Harahan. Home buyers will find spacious well-built single family homes just steps from the water, and modest, cozy mid-century cottages in this suburb. Local restaurants are sure to please foodies. Grab fresh seafood at Seither’s Seafood, Vietnamese dishes at Kim Ahn’s Noodle House, Italian fare at Oak Oven, or classic American food at Phil’s Grill. Cool local boutiques like Hickory Chicks provide a unique shopping experience for Harahan residents. Harahan residents are just a quick drive away from shopping, nightlife, and entertainment in New Orleans, but enjoy a peaceful suburban vibe at home.
The tiny town of Boutte makes our list with a low crime rate and average commute time, perfect for home buyers looking for a safe small town vibe close to the culture, nightlife, and dining in New Orleans. There is a range of housing in Boutte, from affordable ranch style homes to stately two story houses on acres of private land. Shopping and dining are concentrated along Interstate 90. Grab a bite to eat at Zydeco’s, or local sushi bar, Little Tokyo, or shop at local specialty stores like Maison Decor.
Third on our list of the best New Orleans suburbs is the riverside town of Elmwood. Home buyers will find a plenty of single family homes on large lots in this suburb. Enjoy shopping at big name retailers at the conveniently located Elmwood Shopping Center, or grab a bite to eat at Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza or Japanese restaurant Kyoto Two. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts will love Elmwood’s section of the Mississippi River Trail, which offers scenic views, hiking and biking trails, and boating.
Belle Chasse, another New Orleans suburb located along the Mississippi River, earned the fourth place spot on our list. Home buyers in Belle Chasse have their pick of well-built ranch style and two story homes with large private lots. Outdoor enthusiasts will love hiking through the scenic Woodlands Trail, or taking their boat out on the Mississippi River.
With a population of nearly 140,000, the thriving small city of Metairie is the perfect New Orleans suburb for those who want plenty of amenities. This pretty lakeside city is full of housing options, from chic modern condos to well built single-family homes on large lots. Enjoy boating, fishing, and swimming at Lake Pontchartrain, or jogging and fishing at beautifully landscaped Lafreniere Park. Local eateries like Chef Ron’s Gumbo Shop and Drago’s Seafood Restaurant are sure to please local foodies, while nightlife lovers enjoy live music and drinks at local bar, The Max, or creative cocktails and a bite to eat at Martine’s Lounge.
Home buyers looking for plenty of room to spread out will love the New Orleans suburb of Abita Springs. This quiet town of just over 2,000 residents offers large new construction homes and a few modest historic houses in the Main Street area. Grab brunch at the Abita Springs Cafe, a burger and beer at Abita Brew Pub, or a slice at Mamma D’s Pizza & More. Families with young children will love the highly rated public Abita Springs Elementary School and Middle School, which earned high marks from GreatSchools.org.
With over 2,000 amenities, the suburb of Covington provides both a laid back environment and plenty of fun things to do on the weekend. Home buyers have their pick of large single-family homes and modest houses with lovely covered porches. Plan a special night out at upscale seafood and cocktail bar Oxlot 9 or get a vegetarian bite at Toad Hollow. Local shops like 2nd and Charles Bookstore and H.J Smith’s Son hardware store and museum provide a unique shopping experience. The Bouge Fayla Park is shaded by mature trees, has an enormous playground, and is sure to please both active adults and kids alike.
Tied for eighth on our best New Orleans suburbs list is the lakeside town of Mandeville. Everything from unique historic cottages from the mid 1800s and chic modern townhouses with boat parking and waterfront views are available for Mandeville home buyers. Outdoor enthusiasts will love boating, fishing, and swimming at scenic Lake Pontchartrain. GreatSchools.org gave public schools in Mandeville top marks, making it a perfect suburb for families.
Located along the Mississippi River, the appropriately named River Ridge is the second suburb tied for eighth on our list. Home buyers will find a range of housing options, from modern condos to spacious Acadian style homes. Foodies can grab a bite to eat at local restaurants like Taste of Tokyo, Mr. Poor Boy Restaurant, and Kelley’s Village Inn. Convenient shopping from local specialty stores and big name retailers is located along Jefferson Highway.
Rounding out our list of the best New Orleans suburbs is the riverside town of Destrehan. Home buyers will find a range of housing options, from modern townhomes to stately single-family homes with beautiful yards. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts will love strolling and boating along the Mississippi River, while residents that prefer the great indoors can grab a bite to eat at local lunch spot, The Breeze Cafe, or get some fresh seafood at The Seafood Pot. >Ethel Schoeffner Elementary School and Harry M. Hurst Middle School earned nine out of 10 ratings from GreatSchools.org, making Destrehan a great suburb for families with young children.
To figure out which New Orleans were the best of the best, we took a look at the following criteria:
After collecting data for each of the above categories, we ranked each suburb and averaged the scores. The suburbs with the lowest overall scores made our list of best New Orleans suburbs. For our purposes, we defined a suburb as a place with a population of at least 1,000 within the New Orleans metro area. To see how the rest of the suburbs we ranked measured up, check out the table below: 
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