Is Lakeside (Metairie) safe?
Metairie, Louisiana · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Lakeside (Metairie) as “Go”.
What makes up this score?Recent news
Gogo's take on Lakeside (Metairie)
“Go. Lakeside is one of Metairie's most active and established suburban commercial and residential hubs, offering a very safe environment for shopping and dining. Standard precautions against vehicle break-ins in large commercial parking lots are all that is typically required.”
About the area
Centering on the prominent Lakeside Shopping Center along Veterans Memorial Boulevard, this area serves as Jefferson Parish's premier retail and commercial destination. It blends bustling shopping plazas and office towers with quiet, well-kept post-war residential subdivisions.
- Suburban Commercial Hub
- Retail Destination
- Busy / Bustling
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Lakeside (Metairie)
Walk score: 68/100 · Bike score: 48/100
There are no public bike-share stations, and dedicated bike lanes are absent on major arterials like Veterans Blvd, making cycling hazardous along main roads.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to the adjacent New Orleans metro core
- Strong economic base with high median household incomes and low residential vacancy
- Active presence of private mall security and regular Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office patrols
- Wide selection of dining, retail, and entertainment options within well-lit commercial developments
Cons
- High rates of opportunistic property crimes such as vehicle break-ins in mall and retail parking lots
- Extremely heavy vehicular traffic and pedestrian-unfriendly arterial intersections along Veterans Blvd and Causeway Blvd
- Noticeable panhandling near major highway off-ramps and busy retail intersections
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is generally low compared to downtown New Orleans, though occasional panhandling occurs at major freeway off-ramps and large shopping center entry points.
What Lakeside (Metairie) is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Brisk and peaceful with commuters and mall walkers; very safe for pedestrian activity.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Bustling with heavy vehicular traffic and shoppers; safe overall, though parking lots require driver and pedestrian alertness.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Active dining and retail crowds keep the corridors lively and well-lit with high perceived safety.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Commercial areas empty out significantly after mall hours; violent crime remains rare, but deserted parking lots present typical auto burglary risks.
Transit, parking and getting around
Jefferson Transit (JeT) provides bus service through the area primarily via the E1 Veterans and Causeway routes; there is no passenger rail or BRT service.
Ample free surface parking and multi-level parking garages are readily available across Lakeside Shopping Center and surrounding strip plazas.
Things to do in Lakeside (Metairie)
- Shop national retailers and local Louisiana boutiques inside Lakeside Shopping Center
- Dine on classic charbroiled oysters and Gulf seafood along the nearby restaurant corridor
- Explore local specialty bakeries and seasonal Mardi Gras king cake shops throughout the district
Local favorites
- Drago's Seafood Restaurant · Seafood Restaurant · 4.5★ (7600)Legendary Metairie establishment famous across the region for inventing charbroiled oysters.
- Lakeside Shopping Center · Shopping Mall · 4.5★ (12500)Jefferson Parish's premier indoor shopping destination featuring major department anchors and specialty boutiques.
- Acme Oyster House · Seafood Restaurant · 4.4★ (5200)Suburban branch of the iconic French Quarter eatery serving oysters, po'boys, and Creole staples.
Neighborhoods near Lakeside (Metairie)
Common questions about Lakeside (Metairie)
Is Lakeside (Metairie) safe to walk at night?
Generally yes — use the same awareness you would anywhere after dark.
Is Lakeside (Metairie) a good place to live?
On safety, Lakeside (Metairie) scores 80/100 — safer than most of the areas we score, which is a good start for anyone looking to live here.
How walkable is Lakeside (Metairie)?
Walk score 68/100 and bike score 48/100. Some errands can be done on foot.
Which areas near Lakeside (Metairie) are safer?
Metairie Club Gardens (93), Bonnabel Place (84), Houma Boulevard (81) score higher nearby.
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