Is New Orleans Safe? A Comprehensive Guide for Residents and Tourists

New Orleans offers a mix of safe and unsafe neighborhoods. As a new resident or visitor, you must know crime stats and other details to ensure your safety.

In this article, we will talk about the safety of New Orleans. We will consider several key elements, including economic conditions, law enforcement, crime rates, and community engagement. We will share the crime statistics to help you understand how safe it is.

Is New Orleans Safe Place To Live?

According to the sources, New Orleans has a high level of reported crimes. Thus, people need to be extra careful. It marks a crime index of 67.48, which is quite high and increasing year by year. It has reportedly high cases of mugging, robbery, car theft, assault, and drug dealing. Only some of the New Orleans areas are considered safe.

However, it has neighborhood areas such as Lakeview, River Ridge, and Newcomb Boulevard that are considered highly safe. The residents feel secure and safe due to the high patrolling of local police. New Orleans can also be safe, but it surely depends on where you are staying because its crime rate is high due to the dangerous areas.

Is New Orleans Safe For Tourists To Visit?

New Orleans is unsafe for tourists because of its high crime rate, with major contributors being violent and property crimes. The safety of walking during the day is considered moderate, while very low at night because you have a chance of getting mugged, or armed robberies are also common.

Additionally, the cases of corruption and bribery are at their peak. Although New Orleans has a higher crime rate, some of its neighborhoods are safer for tourists.

Areas Of New Orleans To Avoid

The overall safety of New Orleans has been disturbed due to its dangerous areas, where the crime rate remains at its peak. The law enforcement agencies remain inactive because of high bribery and corruption.

In these areas, you will find burglaries, high homicide rates, target killings, house break-ins, armed robberies, and many more. You must avoid going to these areas because they may ruin your peace of mind and cause severe harm to your family. Let's see the list of areas to avoid.

• Saint Roch
• Central City
• Seventh Ward
• Desire Street
• Saint Claude

5 Safest Neighborhoods in New Orleans

Lakeview South

Lakeview South is the safest neighborhood in New Orleans. It has substantially low rates of violent and property crime. Its overall crime rate is calculated to be 23-24, with major crimes being theft and vandalism. It has a crime grade of (A-), which makes it rank 1st among all the neighbors.

They have strong community networks, making it more family-friendly to stay or travel. Additionally, the surveillance systems, such as police patrolling and quick actions, reduce the crime level to an extent.

Newcomb Boulevard

Newcomb Boulevard is also known as the Tulane University area, which is popular because of the high number of students. It is also ranked as (A-) due to its very high daytime activities and patrolling. There are a few crimes that have been reported, such as minor vandalism and illegal entries into vacant properties.

However, the area is considered safe with strong lightning and safety at night. Violent crime rates are extremely low, almost below the city average.

River Ridge South

River Ridge South is ranked as the 3rd safest neighborhood in New Orleans. It has a low violent crime rate but a slightly higher property crime rate. The total crime rate is recorded to be 30-32 per 1000 people, in which property theft, car break-ins, and burglaries are common.

There is a gap in law enforcement agencies that lowers the efficiency of taking quick action. In contrast, the community network is stronger when the residents support each other.

Pontchartrain Park

Pontchartrain Park has a strong historical background. It grades the overall crime rate as (C), and the measured number is 31-33 per 1000 people. Mostly, non-violent cases, such as car theft, have been reported, which are mainly caused due to unemployment. It may also increase due to the old infrastructure and low lighting, but it is safe from violent crimes.

Lakewood

Lakewood has a slightly higher crime rate. Its property crime increases its overall score. It has an overall crime rate of 45-46 per 1000 people, including vehicle break-ins, package theft, and mailbox distortion is common.

In comparison, violent crimes have extremely low rates. The residents feel safe due to the gated communities and surveillance cameras in many areas. Also, the streets have limited access and are well-maintained with moderate police patrolling to control the crime rate.

Safety Tips To Stay In New Orleans

Avoid walking late at night and keep your mobile phone with you so you can call the police in any emergency. Plan your route and go from well-lit areas. Be vigilant and make sure to share your live location with your loved ones.

Keep your doors and windows closed, and always ask first before opening the door. Keep your cars inside the garage; if parked outside, keep them secured with steering locks and anti-theft alarms. Do not open the doors for strangers without verification.

You can install security cameras like Reolink Altas for 24/7 recording with long-lasting batteries. It offers color night vision with a 2K pre-recording feature to monitor the activity before detection. You can also install smart locks, alarms, and other gadgets to ensure safety.

FAQs

1. Is New Orleans dangerous?

Yes, it can be dangerous, but it solely depends on the area where you live. There are some areas to avoid in which criminal activities remain at their peak.

2. Is the New Orleans French Quarter safe?

According to the reviews, the French Quarter is considered safe because of its low crime rate and a safe life with well-lit areas.

3. Is New Orleans safe at night?

The safety of New Orleans at night is low because of high violent and property crime rates. It is better to avoid wandering at night in New Orleans.

Conclusion

The reported crime rate in New Orleans is quite high, which indicates safety issues. However, some neighborhoods and areas are a bit safer compared to others. We have discussed the crime statistics for New Orleans and its neighborhoods to help you decide. Also, consider the safety tips to ensure your safety.