The 10 Most Dangerous And Worst Neighborhoods In New Orleans, LA


The most dangerous and worst New Orleans neighborhoods are Desire and Viavant-Venetian Isles for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

Worst Neighborhoods In New Orleans
Source: Flickr User szeke | CC BY-SA 2.0

New Orleans’s neighborhoods conjure up too many stereotypes to count. You’ve got hipster areas, preppy places, neighborhoods where college kids thrive, and of course, ghettos.

It seems as if there’s a neighborhood for everyone in New Orleans.

And while the city consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in Louisiana thanks in part to tons of entertainment and jobs, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine in New Orleans. Some neighborhoods aren’t as safe as others.

So the question arises, which New Orleans neighborhoods are the most dangerous and which are the safest?

Today, we’ll use Saturday Night Science to determine which New Orleans hoods need a little tender loving care – the sore thumbs of the New Orleans area if you will. Realistically, you can’t expect all the neighborhoods to be amazing, although Audubon ranks way above the rest.

We examined 68 of New Orleans’s neighborhoods to find out the most dangerous places to live. These places don’t quite measure up to New Orleans’s reputation.


Table Of Contents: Top 10 | Methodology | Summary | Table


The Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In New Orleans For 2024

  1. Desire
  2. Viavant-Venetian Isles
  3. Pines Village
  4. Fischer Dev
  5. West Lake Forest
  6. Lower 9th Ward
  7. Florida
  8. Behrman
  9. Saint Roch
  10. Gert Town

So what’s the worst neighborhood to live in New Orleans for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Desire looks to be the worst neighborhood in New Orleans.

Read on to see how we determined the places around New Orleans that need a pick-me-up. And remember, don’t blame the messenger.

For more Louisiana reading, check out:

The 10 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In New Orleans For 2024

Overall SnackAbility

1
/10

Population: 2,667
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,119
Property Crime Per 100k: 7,263
Median Home Value: $93,600 (2nd worst)
Median Income: $14,134 (2nd worst)
More on Desire:  Data

Should you desire to live in Desire? Well, it made this list, so you probably already have your answer. It’s certainly an affordable part of town, with a median home price of just $93,600. As you can guess from that figure, though, life in Desire isn’t exactly flush. Housing in the area is run down and there isn’t much demand for local real estate.

The underlying problem comes from a disastrous economy. More than 1 out of every 7 residents is out of work. Even those with jobs scrape by with a median income of just $14,134.

Overall SnackAbility

1
/10

Population: 677
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,119
Property Crime Per 100k: 7,263
Median Home Value: $77,700 (worst)
Median Income: $11,128 (worst)
More on Viavant-Venetian Isles:  Data

If you just heard the name, you’d probably be pretty excited to visit the Venetian Isles. Sounds like a getaway in a scenic part of Italy. And New Orleans’ Venetian Isles does offer a mild taste of Venice. A bayou version, anyway.

See, homes sit on the water and residents tend to travel by boat. And if you’re looking for more adventure, a quick trip will take you to the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge.

These charms aside, though, the area presents its share of challenges. Most of these fall under the financial category. After all, it’s tough to make your boat payments when unemployment rates run 5.3% and the median income stands at just $11,128.

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 3,835
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,495
Property Crime Per 100k: 7,665
Median Home Value: $160,175 (2worst)
Median Income: $22,383 (7th worst)
More on Pines Village:  Data

Someday, a real estate agent might try to sell you property in Pines Village. Based on the name, they might promise a quaint community nestled into a tranquil forested setting. If they do, don’t fall for it. In actuality, there’s little green space to be found in the Pines Village. Even the “village” part is kind of a hype. Just regular neighborhoods populated with similar one-story houses.

What that crooked real estate agent probably already knows is that Pines Village faces serious economic woes. Even the median home price of $160,175 lies beyond the means of many locals. That’s thanks to the 16.8% unemployment rate and the $22,383 median income.

Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 1,037
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,678
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,455
Median Home Value: $152,400 (18th worst)
Median Income: $16,999 (3rd worst)
More on Fischer Dev:  Data

A small section on the south side of the Mississippi River, the Fischer Development Neighborhood sits within a curve of Highway 90. The unusually bureaucratic name comes from the fact this area was once home to a series of infamous low-income projects, known for raging crime and several high-profile murders.

A redevelopment program has since led to the demolition of many of these projects, but the overall economic problems still plague the neighborhood. Just look at the unemployment rate of 10.9%.

And housing in the area isn’t even that affordable any more. Sure, the median home price comes in at just $152,400. That would be a steal in many cities in America. But when locals pull in a median income of just $16,999, that becomes a steep mortgage.

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 5,650
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,292
Property Crime Per 100k: 6,065
Median Home Value: $138,417 (11th worst)
Median Income: $24,114 (11th worst)
More on West Lake Forest:  Data

Despite its name, West Lake Forest sits on the east side of the city. It’s pretty far from the action. In fact, it lies about as far from downtown as it does from the swamps of the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge.

A short drive from Lake Pontchartrain, the neighborhood is bounded to the north by I-10 and on the south by Dwyer Rd. That access to travel is an important component…you may want an escape route, at least if you’re looking for a good-paying job.

Finding jobs of any kind in the area poses a challenge. This dynamic leads to an unemployment rate of 8.4%. Meanwhile, wages are exceptionally low. The median income stands at $24,114.

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 4,351
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,170
Property Crime Per 100k: 6,178
Median Home Value: $168,833 (26th worst)
Median Income: $28,535 (18th worst)
More on Lower 9th Ward:  Data

The Lower 9th Ward became nationally famous in 2005 as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Located just off the Mississippi River, in the far eastern part of the city, the neighborhood suffered significant flooding as a result of the storm. All this time later, the area is still struggling.

To be historically accurate, it faced significant problems even before Katrina hit. These underlying economic problems continue to afflict the residents. This includes a $28,535 median income and a 13.3% unemployment rate. Still, the community holds together, dotted by churches and sustained by a main drag along Claiborne Ave.

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,522
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,711
Property Crime Per 100k: 6,438
Median Home Value: $96,900 (3rd worst)
Median Income: $20,465 (4th worst)
More on Florida:  Data

Not that Florida. This Florida isn’t even by the water. Besides the false advertising there, this neighborhood features run-down homes and mediocre public schools. No wonder it lands on this list as the number 7 worst place to live in New Orleans for 2024.

In terms of amenities, things are fine. There are plenty of churches and the area has its share of restaurants. You’ve even got Odile Davis Park for a touch of green.

As you’ve probably guessed, though, the underlying problem here is economic. Like most of the neighborhoods on this list, Florida attracts little besides low-paying jobs. The median income hovers at just $20,465.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 7,838
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,738
Property Crime Per 100k: 4,859
Median Home Value: $143,986 (14th worst)
Median Income: $28,384 (17th worst)
More on Behrman:  Data

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 6,398
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 2,807
Property Crime Per 100k: 7,831
Median Home Value: $141,788 (13th worst)
Median Income: $23,281 (10th worst)
More on Saint Roch:  Data

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 5,187
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,918
Property Crime Per 100k: 8,105
Median Home Value: $125,100 (7th worst)
Median Income: $25,182 (13th worst)
More on Gert Town:  Data

Gert Town gets its name from a general store that dominated the area in the old days. It still has a strong commercial stamp, though the character of the neighborhood has been changing. Just as an example, the old Blue Plate Mayonnaise Factory now serves as an apartment complex.

Living in a former condiment manufacturing facility provides a pretty good metaphor for life in the area in general. Top-paying jobs are difficult to land. After all, the factories are all closed down, leaving locals have to find what accommodations they can. Just look at the 6.5% unemployment rate or the $25,182 median income.

Still, there are rays of light in Gert Town. For instance, the neighborhood provides a home to Xavier University of Louisiana.

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous New Orleans neighborhoods in 2024

To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We plugged the following criteria into Saturday Night Science to get the worst neighborhoods in New Orleans:

  • High crime (Estimated)
  • High unemployment (Less jobs)
  • Low median income (Less pay)
  • Low population density (No things to do)
  • Low home values (No one’s willing to pay to live here)

Then, we ranked each neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana for each of these criteria from worst to best.

Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criterion into a “Worst Score.”

The neighborhood with the lowest “Worst Score” ranks as the most dangerous neighborhood of New Orleans.

The article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2024. This report is our time ranking the worst neighborhoods to live in New Orleans.

Skip to the end to see the list of all 68 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.

Summary: The Worst Neighborhoods Around New Orleans

Well, there you have it — the worst of the neighborhoods in New Orleans with Desire landing at the bottom of the pack.

The worst neighborhoods in New Orleans are Desire, Viavant-Venetian Isles, Pines Village, Fischer Dev, West Lake Forest, Lower 9th Ward, Florida, Behrman, Saint Roch, and Gert Town.

As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in New Orleans aren’t all bad. Audubon takes the cake as the best place to live in New Orleans.

The best neighborhoods in New Orleans are Audubon, Uptown, Lakeview, Black Pearl, and Touro.

We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.

For more Louisiana reading, check out:

Most Dangerous Neighborhoods To Live In New Orleans For 2024?

Rank Neighborhood Population Home Value Median Income
1 Desire 2,667 $93,600 $14,134
2 Viavant-Venetian Isles 677 $77,700 $11,128
3 Pines Village 3,835 $160,175 $22,383
4 Fischer Dev 1,037 $152,400 $16,999
5 West Lake Forest 5,650 $138,417 $24,114
6 Lower 9th Ward 4,351 $168,833 $28,535
7 Florida 1,522 $96,900 $20,465
8 Behrman 7,838 $143,986 $28,384
9 Saint Roch 6,398 $141,788 $23,281
10 Gert Town 5,187 $125,100 $25,182
11 Saint Claude 6,562 $156,929 $26,052
12 Pontchartrain Park 1,790 $155,200 $35,575
13 Plum Orchard 5,813 $136,560 $25,744
14 Holy Cross 2,862 $171,350 $39,040
15 Saint Bernard Area 2,472 $106,033 $21,394
16 Mcdonogh 2,103 $137,200 $31,159
17 Bywater 3,922 $328,362 $54,952
18 Whitney 1,878 $162,400 $41,928
19 Tulane-Gravier 3,775 $281,767 $22,516
20 Holly Grove 5,564 $139,633 $28,373
21 Treme’ Lafitte 4,617 $324,617 $29,668
22 Village De L’est 8,709 $132,600 $42,923
23 Dixon 2,179 $168,200 $21,085
24 Saint Thomas 1,974 $115,700 $24,507
25 Dillard 4,850 $168,820 $23,199
26 Read Blvd West 4,730 $145,300 $31,998
27 Seventh Ward 11,595 $193,861 $30,859
28 Central City 14,110 $218,212 $32,318
29 Saint Anthony 4,618 $151,180 $36,796
30 New Aurora-English Turn 3,529 $119,700 $36,480
31 Read Blvd East 8,886 $196,500 $58,658
32 Little Woods 33,284 $166,974 $36,047
33 Us Naval Base 2,016 $223,267 $45,752
34 Lake Catherine 677 $226,800 $61,250
35 Gentilly Woods 4,116 $151,900 $37,011
36 Gentilly Terrace 10,066 $187,290 $58,412
37 Milneburg 4,930 $210,940 $42,978
38 Tall Timbers-Brechtel 13,387 $200,300 $58,312
39 Bayou Saint John 3,880 $254,380 $40,102
40 City Park 2,927 $376,922 $78,471
41 Milan 5,911 $378,867 $52,421
42 Leonidas 7,179 $273,944 $46,720
43 Mid-City 14,578 $307,875 $55,538
44 Broadmoor 6,970 $321,314 $59,622
45 Fairgrounds 5,134 $275,160 $57,860
46 Marigny 3,751 $421,317 $61,848
47 Fillmore 6,495 $257,150 $62,644
48 Old Aurora 15,830 $203,820 $62,243
49 Garden District 3,212 $480,823 $63,148
50 Lake Terrace And Oaks 1,497 $445,500 $118,576
51 Lower Garden District 5,112 $492,475 $83,093
52 Navarre 2,263 $345,300 $68,593
53 Central Business District 2,976 $453,250 $60,982
54 West Riverside 4,946 $472,333 $79,431
55 Freret 1,969 $348,433 $59,532
56 French Quarter 3,181 $510,186 $62,944
57 Algeirs Point 2,574 $347,367 $65,622
58 Irish Channel 3,425 $462,429 $80,785
59 West End 3,281 $381,325 $69,364
60 Lake Shore-Lake Vista 2,423 $552,200 $120,649
61 Marlyville-Fontainebleau 5,994 $423,243 $82,700
62 East Riverside 3,235 $400,100 $92,052
63 East Carollton 4,185 $457,200 $77,204
64 Touro 2,502 $621,167 $81,285
65 Black Pearl 1,922 $400,350 $79,701
66 Lakeview 8,762 $454,136 $115,696
67 Uptown 6,297 $473,300 $100,032
68 Audubon 16,004 $704,812 $105,976
About Nick Johnson

Nick Johnson earned his masters in Business Administration from the Drucker School At Claremont Graduate University. He has written for 39 publications across the country and ran the media relations department at Movoto, a real estate portal based in San Francisco. He has been featured in over 500 publications as an expert in real estate and as an authority on real estate trends.

Nick's the creator of the HomeSnacks YouTube channel that now has over 260,000 subscribers and is an excellent source to learn about different parts of the country.