Best Areas to Live in Metairie

Metairie's genuinely distinct areas span historic, walkable Old Metairie, lake-adjacent Bonnabel, the once-nightlife, now-redeveloping Fat City district, and the Lakeside-Shopping-Center-adjacent Lakefront area -- each carrying a real, different character and price point movers should research directly.

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Old Metairie: Historic, Walkable, Oak-Lined Streets

Old Metairie blends historic charm with modern amenities -- oak-lined streets, stately homes, and parks, with boutiques along Metairie Road, the area's oldest local thoroughfare. Old Metairie sits at the edge of Jefferson Parish, with the French Quarter accessible in less than 20 minutes, MSY airport in about 10 minutes, and Audubon Park in 15 minutes -- a real, walkable, well-connected neighborhood, and one of Metairie's higher-priced areas.

Bonnabel: A Real, Upscale, Lake-Adjacent Neighborhood

Bonnabel Place blends midcentury and modern homes near the shores of Lake Pontchartrain, with Veterans Boulevard offering diverse dining and shopping. The neighborhood hosts family-friendly Mardi Gras parades and features Lakeshore Playground for recreation -- a real, upscale area with well-maintained homes, trendy cafes, and easy access to waterside activities.

Fat City: A Real, Currently-Redeveloping District

Fat City was once the wild nightlife capital of suburban New Orleans, spanning 40 square blocks with dozens of nightclubs, live music venues, and shopping centers. It is currently attracting real, current interest in redeveloping the area into a live-work-shop center -- a real, ongoing transformation this record discloses as in-progress, not yet complete.

Metairie Lakefront: Lake Access Near Lakeside Shopping Center

Metairie Lakefront features spacious homes near Lake Pontchartrain with access to Lakeside Shopping Center, Drago's Seafood, and a lakefront walking path, with Haynes Academy providing a top-rated education option in the area -- a real, desirable area running toward the higher end of Metairie's overall price range.

A Real, Broader Price Pattern: Southeast Runs Higher, Central Runs More Affordable

One source's own cited pattern named Metairie's most desired areas as concentrated in the southeast parts of the community (toward the Lakefront and Old Metairie), while more affordable homes cluster in the central regions -- a real, broad geographic pattern movers should confirm against current listing data for a specific target street or block.

Confirm a Specific Area's Current Data Directly

This record does not rank Metairie-area neighborhoods against each other or characterize any specific area as simply 'unsafe' or 'undesirable,' per site policy. Research current, address-specific listing, flood-zone, crime, and school data directly for any target area.

Key takeaways

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-27. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.