New Orleans ranks among the South’s top nightlife and party capitals, alongside cities like Miami and Nashville. But for many people thinking about moving there, finding a safe neighborhood with low crime is a top priority. This article looks at the city’s crime statistics and ranks the eleven most dangerous neighborhoods in New Orleans.
Is New Orleans Safe?
Statistically, New Orleans is relatively dangerous outside a few tourist areas. FBI crime data puts the crime rate at 5,864 incidents per 100,000 people, which is 150% higher than the national average and makes New Orleans one of the most dangerous cities in America. Residents have a 1 in 18 chance of becoming victims of any crime. Violent crime rates are high as well, with the city averaging over 150 murders per year from 2014 to 2023.
1. Treme Lafitte: The Most Dangerous Neighborhood in New Orleans
Treme Lafitte is considered the most dangerous neighborhood in New Orleans. People often call it simply Treme, and it’s renowned for its jazz clubs, delicious restaurants, and historic homes. Louis Armstrong Park, the birthplace of jazz music, and the Lafitte Greenway are both located here.
Still, Treme’s crime rate runs significantly higher than the rest of the city. Its violent crime rate is 136% greater than the city average and 821% higher than the national average. Property crime is 477% higher than in the rest of the United States, and residents have a 1 in 7 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Treme.
2. 7th Ward
The 7th Ward is one of the most dangerous areas in New Orleans. This historic community, a sub-district of Mid-City, is home to around 5,000 residents. Before the 1960s, it was a prosperous, middle-class neighborhood known for its famous musicians.
Then the construction of the I-10 Freeway hurt property values and contributed to a rise in crime in the area. The violent crime rate in the 7th Ward is 99% higher than the rest of New Orleans and 676% higher than the national average.
Residents have a 1 in 10 chance of becoming a victim of crime here. The 7th Ward still struggles with poverty, and the community’s average annual income is just $21,520.
3. Pines Village
Pines Village is considered one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in New Orleans. Its population is 3,100, and its crime rate is 469% higher than the national average and 289% above the state average. Violent crime is especially high, and shootings and gang violence happen regularly. Overall, residents have a 1 in 10 chance of becoming victims of a violent crime.
4. West Lake Forest
West Lake Forest is one of the most challenging neighborhoods in New Orleans. Roughly 4,200 people live here, mostly low-income and working-class residents. The overall crime rate in West Lake Forest is 423% higher than the national average.
Hurricane Katrina hit the neighborhood hard. Although several redevelopment projects have taken place since the storm, West Lake Forest still struggles with safety issues and remains one of the more dangerous areas in New Orleans.
5. Central City
Central City is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in New Orleans. Its 13,000 residents live with a crime rate that is 420% higher than the national average. Violent crime is particularly high, and gang activity and the drug trade are major contributing factors. Central City sits at the lower end of Uptown, just above the New Orleans Central Business District.
6. Desire
The Desire Projects are known as one of the most crime-ridden areas in New Orleans. Located in the Ninth Ward, they rank among the largest housing projects in the United States, with nearly 1,860 units spread across 98.5 acres. Desire is recognized as one of the poorest and most underserved neighborhoods in New Orleans, and its overall crime rate is 383% higher than the national average.
7. Saint Claude
Saint Claude has a population of 6,562 and a crime rate of 11,087 incidents per 100,000 people. That rate is 373% higher than the national average and 215% higher than the Louisiana average. Shootings happen often in Saint Claude and are frequently linked to gang violence and drug activity. Residents have a 1 in 10 chance of becoming a victim of any type of crime.
8. Saint Roch
Saint Roch has a population of 6,398 and a crime rate that is 365% higher than the national average. Violent crimes, including murders, robberies, and assaults, are highly concentrated here. Property crime is even more widespread, and car thefts and burglaries are the most common offenses. Residents don’t feel the police protect them, and shootings are common.
9. Venetian Isles
Venetian Isles is a small but dangerous neighborhood in New Orleans. Only 983 people live here, and its crime rate is 314% higher than the national average and significantly above the New Orleans average. The neighborhood is largely uninhabited because miles of undeveloped land separate it from the city.
10. Florida Area
In 1994, the Florida Project and the Desire Project were named the most dangerous housing developments in the United States. Crime in the Florida area has dropped somewhat since then, but it’s still 296% higher than the national average. Just over 1,400 residents live in the area. Your chances of becoming a victim of crime in the Florida area are about 1 in 11.
11. Lower 9th Ward
The Lower 9th Ward has a population of 5,560 and a crime rate that is 265% higher than the national average. The 9th Ward is a large area in New Orleans that includes several districts, such as Desire and the Lower 9th. Most of the Lower 9th Ward lies along the Industrial Canal.
Most Dangerous Areas in New Orleans Bottom Line
New Orleans is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, but gang activity and violent crime remain real problems. So whether you’re visiting or living in the city, stay aware of your surroundings and use common sense. Fortunately, New Orleans has safe areas, and some neighborhoods are going through gentrification.
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