RANK #992 / 996 · POP 380,408 · LA
PROJECTED GROWTH: -5.6%
Orleans Parish, coterminous with the city of New Orleans, is known for its unique culture, music, and cuisine, deeply influenced by French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean heritages. The historic French Quarter, with its Creole architecture and lively Bourbon Street, is a central landmark. The parish is situated between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, with much of its land at or below sea level, protected by levees. Outdoor recreation is available at City Park, one of the largest urban parks in the U.S., offering botanical gardens, sculpture gardens, and walking trails. Commuting within the parish is facilitated by the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA), which operates streetcar lines, bus routes, and ferry services, with an average commute time of 28 minutes.
Life in Orleans Parish blends historic charm with modern challenges. While many residents express satisfaction with the city's culture, concerns about crime and housing affordability persist. The public school system, NOLA Public Schools, includes a mix of direct-run and charter schools, with ongoing efforts to improve educational excellence. The economy is undergoing transformation, with a focus on entrepreneurship and recent investments in lower-carbon energy production. Regional collaboration with neighboring parishes also aims to strengthen the broader economic landscape through coordinated efforts in infrastructure and economic development.
Below national median (4.7x)
Well below national median
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.5x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Hospitality Sector Developments (multiple hotel projects)
Various
|
$1,000M | Planned |
|
New Orleans Power Station (Natural Gas Plant)
Entergy New Orleans, LLC
|
$650M | Operating |
|
River District Mixed-Use Development
Undisclosed (includes Shell office building)
|
$500M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Orleans Parish has a Boom Town Index score of 0/100, ranking #992 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.3% and a median household income of $51,116, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Orleans Parish is $281,500 with median rent at $1,162/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.1816, which is less affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.9% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.3%. Home values changed -3.5% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.35% of Orleans Parish's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.