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Orleans County

LA · Pop. 376,035 · Urban County

55/100Homestead Score

Orleans Parish, Louisiana covers 170 square miles with a population of 376,035 and a density of 2212 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on onions, peppers, tomatoes. A median home price of $296,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.82% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 9b with a 339-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.2°F and average winter lows of 48.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 56.8 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. New Orleans East Hospital is 3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 98.7% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.82%
Growing Season: 339 days
Broadband: 98.7%
Density: 2212/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 339-day growing season in USDA zone 9b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.82% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • Broadband reaches 98.7% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • New Orleans East Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 3 miles away — strong local healthcare access.

Cons

  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • A poverty rate of 22.6% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
  • The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
  • At 2212 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.

At a glance

Orleans County, LA is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.

Homestead score
55/100
Median home price
$296k
Property tax
0.82%
Growing season
339 days (zone 9b)
Annual rainfall
56.8"
Broadband
98.7%
Nearest hospital
New Orleans East Hospital, 3 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.82%
Median Household Income$55,339
Poverty Rate22.6%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$296K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone9b
Growing Season339 days
Annual Rainfall56.8 inches
Avg Summer High90.2°F
Avg Winter Low48.3°F
Top CropsOnions, Peppers, Tomatoes

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought6/10
Wildfire5/10
Tornado8/10
Flood10/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalNew Orleans East Hospital (3 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities14

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage98.7%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate4.8%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Orleans County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Orleans Parish?
Orleans Parish is in USDA hardiness zone 9b with a 339-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.2°F, and average winter lows of 48.3°F. The established crops are onions, peppers, tomatoes.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $296,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.82%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 98.7% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
New Orleans East Hospital is 3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 14 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.