Meraux's resilience and relaxed atmosphere near New Orleans
About 6 miles from New Orleans , Meraux is one of several suburbs in St. Bernard Parish — or, in the local parlance, “Da Parish.” Although the riverside community was decimated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, its resilience shines through. “Especially before Katrina, that area drew families that just never left,” says Wendy Englande, a Realtor with Century 21 Investment Realty and a lifelong resident of the region. Today, Meraux’s population is growing once again, thanks to its well-rated schools, comfortable neighborhoods and peaceful atmosphere away from the city.
Ranch- and Acadian-style homes in suburban neighborhoods
Suburban neighborhoods branch off both sides of Judge Perez Drive. Homes feature landscaped front yards and fenced-in backyards, and cars often park in driveways or detached garages. Brick ranch-style homes are most common and sell for $100,000 to $325,000 based on renovations. Larger homes are generally newer and tend to showcase Acadian touches. These range from $230,000 to $500,000. Meraux’s overall CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national figure of 4.
Highly rated St. Bernard Parish Schools, including Chalmette High
Meraux students can attend St. Bernard Parish Public Schools, which receive an overall B-plus grade from Niche. Joseph Davies Elementary and N. P. Trist Middle serve the community, each getting an A-minus. The district’s only high school, Chalmette High, gets a B-plus grade. The school offers career-focused courses like ProStart, a hospitality and culinary arts program. In 2025, Chalmette’s ProStart students won a national competition in restaurant management.
Eateries and shopping just off Judge Perez Drive and in Chalmette
Judge Perez Drive is the main commercial corridor in Meraux, with small shopping centers and restaurants. Crave, a local favorite, serves a diverse menu featuring seafood, pasta and Mexican dishes. Smashed slings burgers and happy hour specials, while Los Reyes Taqueria offers tacos and burritos. Walmart Neighborhood Market has groceries and other essentials, plus a Walgreens across the street. More options are located in the neighboring community of Chalmette , including the famous New Orleans-style take on Italian cuisine at Rocky and Carlo’s. “People travel all over for Rocky and Carlo’s,” Englande says. “It’s probably one of the most well-known in the area.”
Recreation options include community parks and nearby waterways
Families head to Cypress Garden Park for its playground, basketball court and picnic pavilion. Nearby, the community sports facility hosts youth leagues at its baseball, softball and soccer fields. Other areas in St. Bernard Parish also have recreation options, including St. Bernard State Park, 6 miles south in Poydras . The park features camping areas, walking trails and a splash pad. Closer to the New Orleans city limits, Chalmette Battlefield has a visitor center and Park Ranger talks on the site of the final battle in the War of 1812. Locals also enjoy getting out on the water at Lake Borgne and Bayou Bienvenue, known as good spots for fishing and boating.
Community events throughout St. Bernard Parish
St. Bernard Parish hosts plenty of community events throughout the year, including some in Meraux. The nonprofit Docville Farm features scientific education and an event venue. The farm hosts theater productions and the annual Blues, Brews and BBQ festival. Many of St. Bernard’s other events occur in Chalmette, including the Louisiana Crawfish Festival, which has run for 50 years. The Knights of Nemesis put on the parish’s only Mardi Gras parade each February in Chalmette.
Quick commutes into the Central Business District
The Central Business District in New Orleans is 12 miles from Meraux, and many residents commute. “But then you have the ones that are in the oil industry that are working at the Exxons and the Mobils and all those,” Englande says, referring to the refineries scattered along the Mississippi River. Locals mainly drive to their destinations, though the St. Bernard Urban Rapid Transit System operates buses through the parish. The St. Bernard Parish Hospital, 5 miles away, is the nearest health care facility. Travelers can head 25 miles to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport for nonstop flights to nearly 60 destinations.
Hurricane Katrina and today's lower flood risk
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused major flooding and severe damage throughout St. Bernard Parish, including in Meraux. Virtually every building in the parish experienced flooding, and parts of the community saw water levels as high as 15 feet. Meraux’s current population of roughly 7,000 has not yet rebounded to its pre-storm population of around 10,000. Following the storm, a $14.5 billion system of floodwalls and levees was built, significantly increasing flood protection in the community. Today, most of Mereaux’s residential areas are outside of high-risk flood zones, according to FEMA, although certain properties may still require flood insurance.
