With less than 13,500 residents, Belle Chasse, Louisiana, is the epitome of a small New Orleans town. It’s part of the New Orleans Mississippi Delta, south of Lake Pontchartrain. As one of the most historic towns in the area, Belle Chasse, has great arts and entertainment. It’s also one of the Top 10 Best Places to Raise a Family in New Orleans. Unfortunately, Belle Chasse, LA, shares some of the problems New Orleans suffers. If you’re moving here soon and want to know the good and the bad about Belle Chasse, read on. Below are the 5 biggest pros and cons of Belle Chasse, LA.
Pros of Living in Belle Chasse, LA
Excellent Public Schools
There are eight public schools in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, and all but one have an A rating. That’s excellent, no matter how you slice it! In fact, Belle Chase has 5 of the Top 100 schools in Louisiana! They include Thomas Jefferson High School (#11) and Belle Chasse Primary School (#12). Belle Chase Middle School (#35) and Belle Chasse High School (#27) are also on the list. Of all the pros of living in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, this is one of the best!
Belle Chasse is Highly Rated for Families
As we mentioned in the introduction, Belle Chasse, Louisiana, is the #10 Best Place to raise a family in NOLA. We’re sure that part of the reason is due to the excellent schools here. The town is also quite diverse, has low commute times, and has decent nightlife. With Lake Pontchartrain close by, there are also a lot of opportunities for outdoor fun. However, as you’ll see below, Belle Chase does have an unfortunate problem with crime.
Fall, Spring, and Winter Weather in Belle Chasse, LA, are Fantastic
With a comfort index of 8/10, you’ll be very comfortable in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, when winter arrives. Indeed, you’ll be comfy in autumn and spring, too! From September through April, Belle Chasse has some magnificent weather. Highs between 70° and 80° F and lows that rarely drop below 50° F? Yes, please! The humidity is also much lower, so it’s perfect for outdoor activities.
The Food Scene in Belle Chasse, LA is Phenomenal
Of all the pros and cons of Belle Chasse, LA, the food is one of the best perks! Belle Chasse, LA, shares the incredible food NOLA offers, a perk for all you foodies out there! This close to the Gulf of Mexico, it’s no surprise that the seafood in Belle Chasse is superb. They also do a fine job with barbecue and, of course, Cajun cuisine. Many of the restaurants in town get fantastic online reviews between 4.5 and 5 stars. The Top 5 Restaurants in Belle Chasse, LA, include the following phenomenal eateries:
- Pepper on 23, 4.9 Stars
- Adams Catfish House, 4.7 Stars
- Cody B’s – The Market, 4.9 Stars
- Rotolo’s, 4.5 Stars
- LA 23 BBQ, 4.9 Stars
Healthcare and Utilities are Below the National Cost Average
Many towns in Louisiana are incredibly affordable. Belle Chase, unfortunately, isn’t one of them. While it isn’t ridiculously high, the cost of living here is about 8% higher than the national average. (More on that in a bit.) On the bright side, health care and utility costs are well below the national average with a score of 89/100 and 85/100.
Cons of Living in Belle Chasse, LA
Crime Rates in Belle Chase, LA, are Concerning
While violent crime in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, isn’t bad, property crime is concerning. With a score of 70/100, it’s exactly double the US average. Violent crime is 35/100, 12 points higher than the U.S. average. Both need some work, no doubt.
Summer in Belle Chase is Sweltering Hot and Humid
We mentioned how spring, fall, and winter in Belle Chasse are very comfortable. Unfortunately, summertime in Belle Chasse is like living in an oven. (A very humid oven!) Luckily, the hot weather only lasts for three months (June, July, and August) before things cool off.
Housing and Transportation Costs in Belle Chase are Expensive
We mentioned before that healthcare and utility costs in Belle Chasse are below the national average. Sadly, housing and transportation costs are a bit higher. Both will make a bigger dent in your wallet with cost indexes of 116/100 and 128/100.
Commute times in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, are Long-ish.
At about 25 minutes, Belle Chasse is slightly below the national average for commute times. Nearly 10% of people carpool, however, which is helpful.
Income Taxes are Higher in Belle Chasse
This last con is not the worst but it’s also worth considering. The income tax rate for Belle Chasse is 6% compared to the U.S. average of 4.6%. While 1.4% might not seem like a lot, it can add up.
Belle Chasse, LA, is a Nice Place to Live and Work
We think you’ll agree, that Belle Chasse is a nice place to live, work, and raise a family. The pros and cons of Belle Chasse, LA highlight the great life and culture here. It’s not perfect, but it comes pretty close in some respects. At Southern Self Storage, our Belle Chasse, LA, storage units are close to perfect, also. They’re clean and safe, guarded by on-site managers, and affordable.
Before they get here, many folks reserve a storage unit in Belle Chasse, Louisiana. That way, as soon as their movers arrive, they can store their things immediately. The upside is plenty of time to start looking for your new Belle Chasse home and neighborhood.
You can chat with us online if you have questions about self-storage in Belle Chasse, Louisiana. Also, we encourage you to visit our 2 self-storage locations in town and meet the onsite manager. They’ll happily answer your questions and help you choose the right Belle Chase storage unit.
By the way, Southern Self Storage also offers boat storage in Belle Chasse, LA. If you’re looking to boat and fish on Lake Pontchartrain but don’t have storage space at home, we can help! Until then, welcome to Belle Chasse, Louisiana! We’re sure that you’re going to love living here!