Anyone from the New Orleans area?

[Ex Lurker]

5. Lakeview is generally safe and fairly affordable

Uptown around the universities is nice, but expensive. Warehouse District if you're single, but it's also expensive. For that matter, there's a real estate boom in New Orleans and prices have skyrocketed everywhere in the last few years. There's a lot of gentrification going on in previously sketchy areas, which I'm sure would raise the hackles of some DUers, but I'm just relating to you what the situation is. If you're the adventurous sort and want to go that route, you can save some money that way.

Another thing to consider is the flooding situation. In Katrina, the French Quarter and most of Uptown stayed high and dry. Anywhere else, you run a risk if the worst case scenario occurs.

As far as suburbs, consider the Northshore. Across the lake, but only 30 minutes via the Causeway. You miss most of the ambience of the city, but you trade that for peace and quiet, and you get more bang for buck there than anywhere else.