New Orleans, Louisiana

What's the cost of living in New Orleans, LA?

The cost of living in New Orleans is roughly on par with the national average, although home prices and rental costs have risen steeply in recent years. Since Hurricane Katrina, home prices have jumped. Lower-income and historic neighborhoods, like St. Roch and Treme, have experienced gentrification. Also, increasingly scarce housing has driven up rents in the metro area and priced out many working-class residents. 

What's the best way to get around New Orleans, LA?

New Orleans is a relatively easy region to get around. The Mid-City and Uptown neighborhoods are each connected to downtown by the iconic streetcar line (Don't call it a trolley!). However, most residents rely on the bus system, which critics say has failed to re-establish neighborhood routes that disappeared in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

New Orleans is a top city for urban commuters who bike to work. The metro area has made an effort in recent years to improve access for cyclists, creating new bike lanes and shared paths for more than 100 miles of bikeways. For residents who drive, potholes are a long-term problem that the region can't seem to eradicate. Also, several long-term drainage projects have closed major roadways and snarled traffic, frustrating drivers, especially in the Uptown area.

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport offers daily flights around the country and the world, while Amtrak and bus services connect New Orleans to metro areas around the South.

Who lives in New Orleans, LA?

New Orleans is a metro region where it seems like everyone knows everyone. Nearly three-quarters of New Orleans residents were born in Louisiana. The population of New Orleans has risen steadily in recent years, nearly returning to pre-Hurricane Katrina numbers.

On average, the population in New Orleans is slightly older, with a fair number of residents approaching or having already arrived at middle age. About a quarter of the New Orleans population lives below the poverty line. Over a third of New Orleans children live in poverty. That rate has climbed since Hurricane Katrina, a rise experts blame primarily on the low wages parents earn. 

What is there to do in New Orleans, LA?

When the weather is nice, New Orleans residents take advantage of their two large outdoor spaces, City Park and Audubon Park. Locals also have access to a variety of cultural attractions, like the New Orleans Museum of Art and the historic Chalmette Battlefield. The region's famous French Quarter neighborhood features historic homes, galleries and shops, as well as the bars on Bourbon Street. The St. Louis Cemetery, where many famous New Orleans residents are buried, is near the French Quarter.

But the true favorite pastime in NOLA is eating. In an area famous for its food, residents take pride in knowing where to find the best local and international specialties like gumbo, po'boys, and red beans and rice. In the evenings, the region overflows with live music including jazz, rhythm and blues, hip-hop and even heavy metal, and neighborhoods like Marigny and Treme are great places to find it.