Westbank community near New Orleans
The small Jefferson Parish community of Waggaman sits along the west bank of the Mississippi River, about 15 miles from the heart of New Orleans. The mostly residential community is home to about 10,000 people. “It’s a really neat little town,” says Trenace Jefferson, managing broker and co-owner of Essential Living Realty. Jefferson, who previously lived in the area and still sells property there, said it’s a good place to live for those who like quiet environments. “There's no bus service out there so transportation is a must to live in that area,” she adds.
Low home prices and various styles
The median home price in Waggaman is about $219,000, around half the national median and lower than New Orleans’ $337,000 median. Properties range from ranch-style homes built between the 1960s and 1990s to newer construction in numerous styles. Homebuyers can find a few options on the edge of town that offer up to 10 acres of land for $600,000 or more.
B-rated school district and Live Oak Library
The Jefferson Parish Public School System, which has a B on Niche, serves Waggaman. Cherbonnier/Rillieux is located in Waggaman and serves K-8 students. High school students attend L.W. Higgins High School in neighboring Marrero. Several charter schools are also open to Jefferson Parish residents.
Live Oak Library, a branch of the Jefferson Parish Library system, serves the community.
Community parks and walking through the Louisiana wetlands
Waggaman and Kennedy Heights are the two community parks, featuring playgrounds, tennis courts and baseball fields. Thomas Jefferson Park sits adjacent to the library in the shade of 100-year-old oak trees. Residents can enjoy a walk around the track or play a game of horseshoes.
The Mississippi River Trail is also accessible in Waggaman. The TPC Louisiana golf club is just south. The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park’s Barataria Preserve is about 15 miles southeast and provides visitors with a chance to hike, fish and enjoy the wildlife in Louisiana's wetlands, from swamps to bayous.
Commuting for work and driving out for amenities
Because Waggaman is mostly a residential area, most residents commute for work, either to New Orleans or Metairie, the largest community in Jefferson Parish just 10 miles north of Waggaman. One of the area’s largest employers is Ochsner Health System, which runs Ochsner Medical Center, a 760-bed hospital in Metairie.
Residents also have to drive out for most needs, including shopping and dining. The foodie heaven of New Orleans is just across the river. Residents can find groceries, a pharmacy and some fast-food chains about five miles away in neighboring Westwego. The Oakwood Center shopping mall is 12 miles east in Gretna.
Humid days and an uncertain flooding risk
Waggaman has a humid subtropical climate featuring long, hot summers. “We have more humid days than we have cool days,” Jefferson says. “We don’t know sometimes if we’re in fall or summer. We have only two weeks of winter.” Though FEMA designates the area as Flood Zone X, meaning flood insurance is not mandatory and risk is minimized due to mitigation factors, the climate modeling website First Street identifies Waggaman as being at major risk from flooding over the next 30 years. Jefferson says flood insurance is highly encouraged.
Transportation and crime in Waggaman
Waggaman sits between River Road to the north and U.S. Route 90 to the south, which then crosses to the eastern bank of the Mississippi via the Huey P. Long Bridge. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport serves the area. Several rail lines run through Waggaman, on their way to and from the Union Pacific Railyard next door in Avondale
Crime in Jefferson Parish’s unincorporated areas hit its lowest rate since the 1970s, according to the sheriff’s office. According to data from the office, the number of serious crimes in the parish declined by 10% from 2023 to 2024.
