How is NOLA for single life? (New Orleans: apartments, crime, employment)

[Aregentina]

How is New Orleans if you are not looking to get married or settle down? For a single young man, NOLA looks pretty appealing to me. Does this thought process make sense in your opinion:

- I am single and I am not ready emotionally nor fiscally to settle down. So idc about school districts or any of that stuff.
- I am looking for a city that has a relatively low cost of living, decent employment prospects, and the ability to live without a car. Regarding the latter, I have heard it is possible in NOLA. It does not have to be easy, just possible and not an enormous hassle.
-Will have a degree in Finance and I am also teaching myself programming. I am still young and probably naive. Dream of becoming my own boss as well as growing up with a city.
-I like warm weather, architecture, bars/pubs, EDM, Jazz, sunlight, anything historic, & friendly people.
- I notice crime is a problem in NOLA. To be honest crime does not bother me that much, but obviously nobody wants to live in Mogadishu (not that NOLA is like that). How big of a problem is crime down there?
- The city just seems so unique and eclectic. If you look at NY, Philly, or Houston for example you see things that you can find in any other major city. That is not the case with NOLA, and that's part of the reason why I am drawn to it.
-Willing to move with no job lined up.

[annie_himself]

Come on down. Depending on where you live, it's really easy to live without a car. It can be a hassle though, in case of evacuations and certain trips to the suburbs or something. Being close to the streetcar will be important, also the heaviest bus lines.
Crime is mostly a problem in bad neighborhoods and delegated to criminals and other criminals.

You'd love it.

[rburnett]

Sounds like you'll really like it here.

See:
//www.city-data.com/forum/new-o...moving-no.html

//www.city-data.com/forum/new-o...males-20s.html

[Aregentina]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

Come on down. Depending on where you live, it's really easy to live without a car. It can be a hassle though, in case of evacuations and certain trips to the suburbs or something. Being close to the streetcar will be important, also the heaviest bus lines.
Crime is mostly a problem in bad neighborhoods and delegated to criminals and other criminals.

You'd love it.

Yea getting trapped during a hurricane with no means of escape is my one worry, lol. Is it possible to a find roach-free small studio apartment in or near the French Quarter & by public transit for a reasonable price? Do the apartments in the more historic buildings demand a huge premium? It must be amazing to live in something like that.

I have lots of patience regarding public transit. It just has to be possible and not a monumental task to get by with.

Originally Posted by rburnett

Sounds like you'll really like it here.

See:
//www.city-data.com/forum/new-o...moving-no.html

//www.city-data.com/forum/new-o...males-20s.html

Thanks for the links. I read some others but hadn't seen those. I saw online that NOLA is apparently growing extremely fast right now. I know that the city doesn't have a strong corporate presence, but it still seems like it has a lot of life to it. It seems like a good place for someone who wants to have a lot of success in business, but who doesn't confine their goals to just climbing the corporate ladder.

Is there a single city in the U.S. that can match the Flag of New Orleans? I have always loved that flag.

[eastmemphisguy]

Live as close as possible to a grocery. Absolutely critical for those wanting to live without a car. Also, you will never be clean or fresh during the summer. Walking one block is sufficient for major sweatiness due to heat and humidity.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by Aregentina

Yea getting trapped during a hurricane with no means of escape is my one worry, lol. Is it possible to a find roach-free small studio apartment in or near the French Quarter & by public transit for a reasonable price? Do the apartments in the more historic buildings demand a huge premium? It must be amazing to live in something like that.

I have lots of patience regarding public transit. It just has to be possible and not a monumental task to get by with.

Depends on what is reasonable. Studios in the Quarter at the very cheapest are hover just about $1000 from what I've seen. Expect to pay up to $1500. The Marigny and Bywater are just downriver and in walking (Marigny is closer) and biking distance of the Quarter, prices are going up there as well. Seems you can find some of the best bargains in Mid-City and parts of Uptown. At the very least you could find something well under $1000 in both areas. Mid-City can have to closer to the Canal streetcar and the Broad bus. There are plenty of historic buildings in the city, location dictates price.

If you have patience, you'll be ok using NO transit.

[Aregentina]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

Depends on what is reasonable. Studios in the Quarter at the very cheapest are hover just about $1000 from what I've seen. Expect to pay up to $1500. The Marigny and Bywater are just downriver and in walking (Marigny is closer) and biking distance of the Quarter, prices are going up there as well. Seems you can find some of the best bargains in Mid-City and parts of Uptown. At the very least you could find something well under $1000 in both areas. Mid-City can have to closer to the Canal streetcar and the Broad bus. There are plenty of historic buildings in the city, location dictates price.

If you have patience, you'll be ok using NO transit.

Darn, that is a little too pricey. I did some searching and so far I found a few apartments that look very nice w/ reasonable prices. Are these good areas?

http://www.forrent.com/apartment-com...le/1005387.php

http://www.forrent.com/apartment-com...1000057085.php

http://www.apartmentguide.com/apartm...rondelet/82503

[annie_himself]

The first and third are both in good areas close to transit. The first is Uptown, the second is actually quite dangerous. The third will have you closest to the Quarter and both the Canal and St. Charles streetcars.

[rburnett]

200 carondelet would be the easiest to go car free. You can walk to 2 grocery stores and will be in the center of the transit network. You'll be able to easily access most parts of the city.

[Aregentina]

Thanks for the responses. I would be fine living in an area that a mom with kids probably wouldn't be, as long as it is not flat out dangerous/ghetto. I think if you are a young man and don't get involved with the wrong crowd, you are most likely going to be fine with basic street smarts.

Anyhow, through a stroke of luck I may be able to actually visit the city for a few days next week. I will try to visit a lot of areas that most tourists miss.

Also, does the great cuisine in NOLA extend to the ability to buy great fresh ingredients? I actually have a peanut allergy, which means I do not plan to eat out often until I learn what foods/restaurants I am comfortable with. Not only that, but since I am young and on a budget I would want to do my own cooking. I am hoping I could cook my own Creole food with great ingredients that are not super expensive.

Thanks again for the help.