Along the bayous of Terrebonne Parish is Houma, named for the Native American tribe United Houma Nations. Today, about 33,400 residents from many cultures have shaped the city’s atmosphere and traditions, including Cajun, French, African American and Native American. “Our culture, our people – I just don’t feel like there’s anything like that everywhere I go,” says Kelli Guidry, resident and Realtor with Real Broker LLC. She is not the only one to say this; one of her clients expressed the kindness and support he saw following Hurricane Ida in 2021. “He was like, ‘Kelli, I have lived all over. Never have I been to a place where people came together like they did in this area.’ But it’s not just during tragedy that our people are like that. Our people are always like that.”
Houma is the parish seat of Terrebonne Parish. Major employers include the school district, Gulf Island Fabrication, Pride Offshore and Terrebonne General Medical Center.
Gators glide through the waters of the bayou's of North Houma.
Celebrate creativity and nature at the Bayou Art Festival in Downtown Houma.
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Housing prices impacted by insurance
Older homes, such as mid-twentieth century shotguns like those in North Houma and Houma Heights , comprise a large percentage of the city’s housing market. Most of the newer construction is west of the Intracoastal Waterway, in neighborhoods like Sugar Mill and Summerfield Place . The median price is $218,000, significantly lower than the National Association of Realtor’s national figures; however, some new or renovated properties are close to $400,000. While Guidry acknowledges that housing prices “may seem like it’s really affordable,” she expresses concerns about the impact of home insurance. “Our insurance is continuing to increase,” Guidry says. According to Value Penguin, Houma’s insurance rates are about 30% higher than the national average.
Acadian homes stand out in Manchester neighborhood.
Cape Cod and American Traditional style homes line certain Mulberry streets.
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Hurricane preparedness in Houma
For most of the year, Houma has a humid, sometimes muggy, climate; January is the driest month. The hottest months are between May to September, with temperatures between 65 and 90 degrees. “It’s essential to know that Houma’s location in Terrebonne Parish means a close connection to the water, so flood preparedness and understanding hurricane season are important,” Morvant says. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Terrebonne Parish has a relatively high risk of hurricanes. The parish’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is responsible for making evacuation plans and response teams, as well as updating residents as a storm develops. There is a levee system designed to minimize flooding.
A cottage with an elegant front porch and some tropical plants out front.
Houma Heights is a small neighborhood on the east side of the city.
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Private schools affiliated with religious institutions
Houma is part of Terrebonne Parish Public School District, which earns an A-minus from Niche and offers school choice. Residents can also elect to send their kids to private school; many are associated with religious institutions, including St. Francis de Sales School, a Catholic school for pre-kindergarten through seventh grade. Houma Christian School was voted Bayou’s Best Private School in 2024. Nicholls State University is about 15 miles away, in the neighboring city of Thibodaux.
Southdown Elementary School encourages Crescent students to be their best.
Oaklawn Junior High School gets a B from Niche and covers grades 6-8.
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Car-dependent city about 60 miles from New Orleans
Houma residents primarily rely on their cars to get around. Highways like Louisiana Route 182, also called New Orleans Boulevard, connect to U.S. Route 90 and leads about 60 miles to Downtown New Orleans. Terrebonne Parish works with Good Earth Transit to run several bus routes in the area. Although the Houma-Terrebonne Airport is in the area, it is used primarily for industrial flights. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is nearly 45 miles away and offers over 50 nonstop destinations.
Revitalization efforts in Downtown Houma
Bayou Terrebonne runs through Downtown Houma , bordered by eateries and boutiques. Besides being the heart of Houma’s dining scene, there are museums, like the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum, art galleries and plays at La Petite Theatre. Hurricane Ida heavily impacted downtown. “Developments are underway to enhance our Downtown Houma buildings that were devastated by Hurricane Ida,” Morvant says. One such building was Finding Our Roots African American Museum, which had to close following the storm but has reopened as a mobile museum housed in RV. Revitalization efforts go beyond repairing the damaged buildings. The Hache Grant Association (HGA) is a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing Terrebonne Parish; its current project, “Start at the Heart,” includes building floating docks and kayak launches that let out onto Bayou Terrebonne. Part of the HGA’s funding comes from the annual Bayou Terrebonne Boucherie. Major retailers like Target and chain restaurants are along Martin Luther King Boulevard and Highway 311.
Everyone is falling in love with Elysian Park neighborhood.
Shotgun shacks are readily available throughout Houma Heights.
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Mardi Gras and Southern Louisiana celebrations
Like much of Louisiana, Houma has no shortage of Mardi Gras festivities. Over 10 krewes ride through the city, with parades starting a week before Mardi Gras Day. Other events celebrate Southern Louisiana culture, including the Rougarou Fest, and unique events like the annual Maw Maw Walker, a pub crawl where participants dress up as grannies.
Check out the annual Rougarou Festival in Houma, with rides, vendors and more.
The live music goes for three days straight at the annual Rougarou Festival near Houma Heights.
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On the bayou and at Bayou Country Sports Park
As part of Louisiana’s Bayou Country, Houma is home to a rich ecosystem with marshes, swamps and wetlands. Kayakers can paddle through the bayous – watching for alligators - and many go fishing or crabbing. Bayou Country Sports Park is the largest park in the region, with a final plan that spans 140 acres. While it is still being developed, its current iteration includes a softball and baseball complex, a beach, and a regularly stocked fishing pond. There are several other neighborhood parks throughout the city. “In the Louisiana heat and on those really sunny days, Lafayette Park is such a great one because it has a whole lot of pine trees,” Guidry says. “You’re able to get outside and not be beat down by the sun.”
The spirit of the gulf can be felt throughout all of the Crescent neighborhood.
Enjoy the day in Downtown Houma near Elysian Park.
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Written By
Zia Sampson
Photography Contributed By
Jack Adams
Video By
Kevyn Harris
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Melanie Bruce,
an experienced agent in this area.
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