Are you thinking of making Metairie, LA your new home? We know that deciding to move anywhere takes a lot of thought and planning. After all, you want to make sure you’re moving to a place that’s right for you!
With that in mind, we want to tell you about all the advantages of living in Metairie, and what makes it one of the best suburbs of New Orleans. To keep it fair, we’ll discuss a few of the drawbacks as well. We’ll also include some statistics to help you make an informed decision.
So without further ado, here are the pros and cons of living in Metairie, LA.
About Metairie, LA
Located just west of New Orleans, Metairie is a census designated place (CDP) in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. In addition to New Orleans, Metairie is bordered by the city of Kenner to the west, and the communities of Elmwood, Harahan, River Ridge, and Jefferson to the south. Metairie’s northern border is Lake Pontchartrain, which is crossed by the longest continuous bridge over water in the world.
As of the 2020 census, Metairie had a population of 143,507 residents. This makes Metairie the fifth largest CDP in the entire United States. If it were incorporated, it would be the 4th largest city in Louisiana. It is by far the largest suburb of New Orleans.
Metairie is undoubtedly a family community. 19% of the population is under the age of 18, and the median age of all residents is 40.6 years old. Over 50% of Metairie consists of married couples, and the average household has 2.5 residents.
Of the over 61,000 housing units in Metairie, 61.4% are single family homes, with apartments and townhomes making up the vast majority of the rest. Metairie has a 62% home ownership rate. The median home value is just above $300,000 and continues to rise year over year. The average price of current Metairie homes for sale is $318,000.
The median per capita income of Metairie is $37,928 which is higher than the national average. However, the median household income is $60,355 which puts it slightly below the nation’s average. 13.5% of residents work in the healthcare industry, with construction and tech coming in right behind.
Why Metairie is a great place to live
It’s true that what makes a place great is subjective. Some people prefer a large city that offers convenience and a lot of options when it comes to things to do. Others are looking for a smaller, more laid back atmosphere, and a strong sense of community. Metairie is unique in that it can offer both.
While not small by any means, it’s easy to feel that you live in a tight-knit community. No matter what time of year, you’ll find festivals, fairs, concerts, and many other ways to get to know your neighbors. Metairie is even home to the most family-friendly Mardi Gras events in the New Orleans area. And to think, all of this family-friendly fun is only minutes from the French Quarter!
In addition, Metairie is home to many parks and playgrounds. Through summer camps, art programs, and organized sports, children have the opportunity to forge lifelong friendships.
With everything from a shopping mall to boutique stores, a wide selection of grocery store options, and hundreds of restaurants, Metairie offers unparalleled convenience. This, along with its proximity to the city and many career options, make it the most popular suburb in the New Orleans metro area. In fact, it’s even been named one of the best places to live in the country!
Another great advantage of living in Metairie is the cost of living. While real estate is above the national average, everyday items like groceries come in less expensive. Also, the cost of utilities in Metairie sits over 20% lower than the national average. When compared to New Orleans, property tax rates are quite low as well.
Things to consider
So now that we’ve discussed some of the pros to living in Metairie, let’s talk about a few of the factors you’ll want to think about before buying your next house there.
As we mentioned earlier, real estate is not inexpensive in Metairie. While this is somewhat balanced out by other cost of living factors, housing in Metairie is well above the national average. Metairie real estate is also some of the highest priced in the state of Louisiana.
We’re considering this a con because it does make it more difficult for certain people to get into Metairie. However, an important factor to keep in mind is the appreciation rate of properties in Metairie. Over the last 10 years, home values have gone up by 4.8%, and are still on a steady incline.
This means that when you’re looking at Metairie homes for sale, you can rest assured that if it ever comes time to sell, you’ll be able to make a profit on your property. Metairie real estate is an investment.
Another consideration to take into account when you’re thinking of moving to a community is crime. The crime rate in Metairie is relatively high for a place its size. Metairie is rather compact and has a high population density. This put its crimes per square mile at a rate higher than both the rest of the state, as well as the country as a whole.
This does not tell the full story though. When the per capita data is compared, you’re almost half as likely to be a victim of violent crime as the rest of the state. In addition, the rate of violent crime is also lower than the national average.
While property crime is higher than the country as a whole, it is lower than the state average.
Both violent and property crime rates are far lower than the city of New Orleans itself. In fact, Metairie is one of the safest places to live in the metropolitan area.
Bottom Line
While it’s important to take all of the things we’ve discussed here into consideration, we believe that the pros of buying your next home in Metairie far outweigh the cons. All things considered, Metairie is a good place to live!
We certainly hope this has helped you decide whether Metairie is right for you. If you’re ready to make the move to Metairie, reach out to a local, trusted discount realtor to help you find that perfect home.
