Relocating to New Orleans or the Northshore: Your Guide

Thinking about moving to the New Orleans area? Whether you’re coming for a new job, to be closer to family, or simply for the food, music and culture, the hardest part is usually deciding where to live. New Orleans and the Northshore sit about 40 minutes apart across Lake Pontchartrain, and they offer two very different ways of life, with the suburbs of Jefferson Parish in between. This guide walks you through your options so you can narrow down the areas that fit you best.

Which area fits your lifestyle?

If you want city living and character: New Orleans

Live where the history is. Shotgun doubles, Creole cottages and grand Victorian homes line oak-shaded streets, and you can walk to coffee, dinner or a parade. Uptown and the Garden District offer stately homes near Audubon Park and the St. Charles streetcar, Lakeview has a more suburban feel near the lake, and the French Quarter and Marigny put you in the middle of it all. Explore New Orleans neighborhoods.

If you want convenience: Metairie and Jefferson Parish

The East Bank suburbs put you minutes from downtown New Orleans, the airport and Ochsner’s main campus, with plenty of shopping and dining close to home. Choose Old Metairie for tree-lined streets and classic homes, Bucktown for the lakefront and seafood, Kenner for lakefront neighborhoods near MSY, or River Ridge and Jefferson / Old Jefferson for a laid-back feel near the river. Start with our Metairie guide.

If you want space, schools and a slower pace: the Northshore

Across Lake Pontchartrain, the Northshore offers bigger lots, newer construction, golf and waterfront communities and highly rated public schools in St. Tammany Parish. Mandeville has its historic lakefront and gated communities like Beau Chene, Covington has a charming downtown and the river, Slidell offers waterfront living in neighborhoods like Oak Harbor and Lakeshore Estates, and Madisonville and Abita Springs keep that small-town feel.

Also worth a look

St. Bernard Parish, the Westbank and St. Charles Parish (East Bank and West Bank) often offer more home for the money, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast is about an hour east.

Getting around

Most people here drive. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, nearly 24 miles long, connects Mandeville and Covington to Metairie, and I-10 crosses the lake’s eastern end to connect Slidell with New Orleans East. Inside the city, the historic streetcar lines run along St. Charles Avenue, Canal Street and the riverfront. If you’ll commute daily, visit your top neighborhoods at rush hour before you decide.

Things that work a little differently here

• Parishes, not counties. Louisiana is divided into parishes, and your parish sets your property taxes, schools and many local services.
• Flood zones and insurance. Flood risk and insurance costs can change from one street to the next, so get quotes before you make an offer, not after.
• Property taxes and the homestead exemption. Due dates differ by parish, and you’ll want to apply for your homestead exemption after you buy. See my parish-by-parish property tax guide.
• Hurricane season. It runs June 1 through November 30. A home’s elevation, roof age and generator readiness are worth asking about.
• Utilities depend on your address. Electric service comes from Entergy in New Orleans and much of Jefferson Parish, and from Cleco or the Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative on the Northshore.

Moving for a new job at one of the region’s big port, energy or shipbuilding projects? Read Moving to New Orleans or the Gulf Coast for Work for where to live near each job site.

Your moving checklist

• Get pre-approved with a lender who knows Louisiana loans and insurance requirements.
• Pick two or three areas, then search homes for sale and save a search to get new listings by email.
• Get flood and homeowners insurance quotes on any home you’re serious about.
• After closing, set up utilities, transfer your driver’s license and vehicle registration at the Louisiana OMV, and register to vote.
• Apply for your homestead exemption with your parish assessor.
• Download my free homebuyer guide for tips that keep your mortgage on track.

Why relocate with ALC Realty

“New Orleans and the Northshore are only about 40 minutes apart, but they offer two completely different ways of life, and I love helping people figure out which one feels like home. I’ve spent 20 years selling on both sides of the lake, so I can tell you which street has the best parade view, which neighborhood floods and which one has the best po-boy. My favorite part is when a family that started out as strangers to Louisiana becomes my neighbors and lifelong friends.”
— Alicia Lagarde Craig, ALC Realty

Relocation FAQs

Is it better to live in New Orleans or on the Northshore?
It depends on your lifestyle. New Orleans offers walkable, historic neighborhoods, nightlife and food at your doorstep. The Northshore (Mandeville, Covington, Slidell, Madisonville and Abita Springs) offers more space, newer homes, highly rated public schools and a slower pace, about 30 to 45 minutes from the city. Metairie and Kenner sit in between.

What is the Northshore?
The Northshore is the area along the north side of Lake Pontchartrain, mostly in St. Tammany Parish. It includes Mandeville, Covington, Slidell, Madisonville, Abita Springs and Lacombe, and it connects to the New Orleans area by the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway and I-10.

How long is the drive from the Northshore to New Orleans?
From Mandeville or Covington, the nearly 24-mile Causeway bridge takes you to Metairie, and downtown New Orleans is usually 35 to 50 minutes away depending on traffic. From Slidell, I-10 across the Twin Span bridge takes about 30 to 40 minutes.

When is hurricane season in Louisiana?
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. Most locals keep a simple plan: a go-kit, important papers in one place, and a plan for where to go if an evacuation is called.

Can you help me buy a home before I move?
Yes. Many of my relocating clients buy from out of state. I can preview homes for you, walk through them on live video, and coordinate inspections and closing so you can sign remotely or arrive with keys waiting.