Presenting the ultimate list when it comes to finding the perfect neighborhood for your New Orleans renting experience. Below are ten of the best neighborhoods to rent in based off of Walkscore's data, density of violent crimes via the New Orleans Police Department's crime map, and the ultra-scientific availability of rentals on Craigslist. Is your favorite 'hood not on the list? Do tell us all about it.
1. French Quarter — The neighborhood most emulated by Disney and envied by tourists also happens to be one of the most sought-after places to live in New Orleans. Boasting a bevy of homes, apartments, and rooms, the Vieux Carre consistently scored the highest in terms of walking and biking. A stand-alone home in the Quarter is a true rarity but the St. Ann Street rental (pictured above) is just that. The one-bedroom, one-bath rental is going for $2,250 per month. Yes, the Quarter is one of the pricier areas to live and some of the rentals are ridiculously small for New Orleans standards. However, most errands can be accomplished without leaving its confines, not to mention the indulgence of world-class entertainment, food, and drink.
2. Central Business District — Sure, most of the apartments are fully-furnished and were probably used on the set of VH1's Tough Love New Orleans but the CBD is nearly as well patrolled as the French Quarter and just as walkable and bikeable, as the two neighborhoods butt up against each other in what can sometimes seem like an unending blob of tourism. While many Quarter rentals have distinct architectural details and character galore, the CBD is all about the luxury apartment. A two-bedroom, two-bath, fully furnished rental in the Union Lofts runs between $2,710 and $2,845 per month. The building has art installations, a rooftop hot tub, a gym, and smooth talk like, "Grab a seat in your Le Corbusier LC3 sofa and kick your feet up on your Isamu Noguchi coffee table."
↑ 3. Marigny — There's the Marigny Triangle, the Marigny Rectangle, the plain old Marigny and don't forget the New Marigny on the other side of St. Claude Avenue. Every guidebook will rap about its funky, bohemian vibe and colorful collection of houses, and it is considered one of the best neighborhoods to put down roots in New Orleans. Though homes and apartments are becoming more scarce (and more expensive) as artists and film crews stake their claim on prime rental properties, there are 300 or so Craigslist ads advertising occupancy. The three-bedroom, two-bath shown above has an inground pool and is listed for $2,500 a month.
4.Lower Garden District *#8212; Outside the chaos of downtown, close enough to Uptown to feel peaceful, next to the Garden District for the fancy factor, far enough away from Central City to be pretty safe, and close enough to the hubbub of the heart of the city (but with bigger and cheaper rentals than the CBD). The LGD has plenty of restaurant and bar options, green space in Coliseum Square, and the hip factor is high. This rental at Constance and Race Streets is a 1,200-square foot, two-bedroom upper unit for $1,750.
↑ 5. Uptown — For renters looking to get far, far away from downtown's high jinks, trying to score a pad on the Mardi Gras parade routes, or perhaps wanting to be closer to an institution of higher learning, then Uptown is most definitely your cup of tea. With a Walkscore of 84 and a Bikescore just shy of 70, many common errands, meetings, and shopping extravaganzas can all be achieved within this expansive neighborhood. The studio rental pictured, which happens to be near Whole Foods, is asking $950 a month.
↑ 6. Bayou St. John — Fans of nature, kayaking, City Park, and Grecians will love this Mid-City neighborhood. Bayou St. John has a high walkscore, a relatively low crime rate, and a wide variety of homes from efficiency apartments overlooking City Park to rentals in grand mansions right across from the waterway. The ability to kayak from one's apartment to Greek Fest in the early part of the summer serves as a huge perk, especially considering the many ouzo concoctions the festival continues to invent. A few blocks from the bayou, this newly renovated one-bedroom is on the rental market for $1, 050.
↑ 7.Bywater — Once billed as more of an artists' commune and the type of place where hipsters set up shop in houses, vehicles, and carts; there's no denying the Bywater is a trendy neighborhood. Like most artist havens, it was once a normal working class area with dirt cheap rent. It's still slightly less expensive than the Marigny (this one bedroom rental is $1,300), yet not far off enough to warrant as unpleasant a walkscore as Holy Cross and the Lower Ninth Ward.
↑ 8. Mid-City — Named for its seriously central location, Mid-City is the type of area where one can hop in a vehicle, pick the outskirts of Orleans Parish in any direction, and hit the destination point within 20 minutes, barring traffic. This part of town is vast and sometimes the borders are vague, but there are a wide variety of restaurants and bars, housing options, and in many sections natural beauty and amazing architecture. Mid-City is one of the more affordable parts of town to live in and this two-bedroom above is $1,250 a month.
↑ 9. Tremé — The neighborhood that inspired David Simon's HBO series has sprung to life in recent years. Since celebrating its 200th anniversary, the oldest black neighborhood in the country is history in motion. Each block serves as a marker of the history of jazz, architecture, and urban planning. Just one main thoroughfare separates Tremé from the French Quarter, making it highly walkable, yet surprisingly calm. A one-bedroom Creole cottage behind the Esplanade Avenue home pictured is renting for $1,400 per month, utilities included.
↑ 10. Freret — Residents of this neighborhood Uptown may have to utilize a vehicle for some errands, but as the Freret Street corridor continues to expand, the neighborhood becomes one of hottest with a slew of new restaurants, bars, and shopping. Close enough to Tulane and Loyola to attract college students, the Freret demographic still stretches across the board and rent hasn't hit the astronomical range yet. This three-bedroom, one-bath home is $1,200 per month. — April Siese
· Renters Week 2013 coverage [Curbed NOLA]
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