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Chalmette, LA
Chalmette, LA
Louisiana›St. Bernard Parish
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ChalmetteLA

Home to 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: TJM · CC BY 2.0
Photo of Chalmette

Chalmette, LA · Photo: TJM · CC BY 2.0 · Source ↗

Population
22,616
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$215K
+3% in a year
Household income
$55K
median
Median age
35.2
years
Jobs based here
8,024
Balanced
TownGrade
C−
#98 of 161 in LA

What should you know before moving to Chalmette?

FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 94% of U.S. communities, with hurricanes at the top. Overall it grades C−, 98th among Louisiana's 161 graded towns. Its public schools beat 79% of Louisiana towns on state tests and graduation and it is more walkable than 76% of U.S. towns. Its weakest subject is health: CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 93% of the country. 25% of residents live below the poverty line in Chalmette, against 20% in Louisiana’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Chalmette is home to Nunez Community College.

StrongestA−SchoolsA−WalkabilityWeakestD−Hazard riskDHealthC−Jobs & income

What makes Chalmette stand out

Where Chalmette beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

Chalmette Unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park Historic District
History
Founded in 1720
2 places on the National Register
A history going back 306 years.
St. Bernard Parish schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Lacoste Elementary SchoolPK–5621
Chalmette Elementary SchoolPK–5467
Our Lady of Prompt Succor SchoolPK–7435
SchoolsA−
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
94Very high riskLowerHigher
Worth knowing · Natural hazardsD−
Hurricanes and inland flooding at the top
FEMA National Risk Index.
Chalmette Unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park Historic District
Chalmette Unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park Historic District · National Register of Historic Places
Chalmette’s story

306 years in pictures

Its founding year, 1720, comes before those of 97% of the Louisiana towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 1,695 in 1950, a peak of 33,847 in 1980, 21,562 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1870 and 8 maps from 1892 on.

2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

  • 1720Chalmette is founded
Explore the history →

How Chalmette grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Louisiana), ordered by how far Chalmette is from typical.

How grading works
Hazard riskhurricanes tops the listD−Open →HealthSt. Bernard Parish Hospital 1.4 miles awayDOpen →SchoolsA−Open →Jobs & income$55K median household income; 8,024 jobs based hereC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.1 of 20; 7.9% of households have no car; 2.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA−Open →Cost of livingC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 4% conserved landB−Open →History2 places on the National Register; 2 notable people born hereBOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 91° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market51 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 35.2; 14% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Caesars Superdome and 37 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Chalmette. Close and well known come first.

All 43 attractions →
Big draw7 mi Stadium & arenaCaesars SuperdomeBig draw19 mi LakeLake Pontchartrain6 mi MuseumNational World War II Museum707K visitors a yearin town National Historical ParkJean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve227K visitors a year13 mi LandmarkFort Macomb6 mi MuseumThe Cabildo
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits

Caesars Superdome: Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lake Pontchartrain: Mersh13, CC BY-SA 3.0 · National World War II Museum: Nolabob, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve: No machine-readable author provided. Jan Kronsell assumed (based on copyright cl, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fort Macomb: Infrogmation, CC BY 2.5 · The Cabildo: Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY-SA 3.0

Getting set up

Moving to Chalmette: who provides what

Chalmette is unincorporated, so St. Bernard Parish and regional agencies provide most services.

WaterSt Bernard Parish WaterworksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers96% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesSt. Bernard ParishSt. Bernard Parish provides services here
SchoolsSt. Bernard Parish School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Louisiana you can register online until 20 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereSt Bernard Parish Registrar of VotersSt. Bernard Parish; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code7004370043 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Chalmette.

Chalmette has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns, trades workers with New Orleans and other neighbors and looks healthier within Louisiana than nationally.

HealthD

Chalmette earns a D for health

Within Louisiana it is less healthy than 54% of the 161 graded towns: much of Louisiana scores lower on these measures.

22% of adults report frequent mental distress in Chalmette. Chalmette beats the Louisiana average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8. 28% of adults worry about having enough food in Chalmette.

7%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
ChalmetteLouisiana townsU.S. towns
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)22%20%17%
Food insecurity (CDC PLACES)28%26%14%
Depression (CDC PLACES)29%27%23%
Feel lonely (CDC PLACES)38%37%33%
32 measures vs. Louisiana
2 better22 too close to call8 worse
What stands outChalmetteLA
Fewer adults who have had cancer6.3%7.5%
Fewer adults who have had a stroke3.9%4.3%
More uninsured adults11.7%8.9%
St. Bernard Parish Hospital
1.4 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
46th
percentile among LA towns
Full pageChalmette’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsMore smokersHospitals & doctors nearby1.4 miles to an ER · St. Bernard Parish HospitalHow adults are doingMore adults in frequent mental distressEvery CDC estimateBetter than LA on 2 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

SchoolsA−

Chalmette earns an A− for schools

Its public schools are run by the St. Bernard Parish school district. The largest public high school is Chalmette High School, with 2,193 students.

79%of LA districts it outscoresA−School Grade
SchoolLevelStudentsLetter
Lacoste Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5Grades PK–5621A−
Chalmette High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12Grades 9–122,193B
Full pageChalmette’s schools pageOpen the page
The districtsSt. Bernard ParishVs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 3 graded neighborsEvery school6 schools · Chalmette High SchoolQuestions“Are Chalmette’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within LA on state tests and graduation

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−

Very high risk in Chalmette, with hurricanes at the top

Since 1978, 12,020 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Chalmette.

94risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
94Very high riskLowerHigher
HurricanesInland flooding
12,020
paid flood claims since 1978
8
federal disasters paid out here
Full pageChalmette’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesVery high riskFlood claims12,020 paid flood claims · Since 1978Past disasters8 federal disasters · Paid out in ChalmetteGet ready0.3 events a year, on average · Ready for hurricanes

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

OutdoorsB−

Chalmette has set aside 4.2% of its land for conservation

2.1 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Chalmette Battlefield, at 130 acres.

#49for trails in LA
ChalmetteLouisiana townsU.S. towns
Conserved land4.2%1.2%4.3%
Miles of trail per square mile0.3 miles per square mile0.20.4
4.2%
conserved · 212 of 5,079 acres
2.1 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
Biggest places to walkTrailsAcres
1. Chalmette Battlefield0.5 mi130
2. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve—130
3. Val Reiss Park—34
Full pageChalmette’s outdoors pageOpen the page
Trail map2.1 miles of trail, mappedPick a walk0.5 miles of trail · Chalmette BattlefieldConserved land4.2% conserved · 212 acres protectedQuestions“Where can I hike in Chalmette?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Climate

Mild winters and hot summers in Chalmette

January nights average 44.4°, milder than in 97% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 90.6°.

Chalmette has warm winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The January low in Chalmette is 44°F. Snow is almost unheard of.

91°summer high
ChalmetteLouisiana townsU.S. towns
January low44°F42°F22°F
July high91°F92°F85°F

Typical low → high °F

Winter46–64°
Spring60–78°
Summer74–90°
Fall62–79°
Dec 17
typical first frost
Feb 10
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
91°
typical summer high
Full pageChalmette’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 91°, January lows 44°Rain & snow63″ of rain a year · Snow is almost unheard ofHeating & coolingBoth heating and coolingThen and now+0.9° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−

About one in three of Chalmette’s working residents commute to New Orleans

Chalmette has about as many jobs (8,024) as working residents, but only 1,414 people both live and work here.

Most working residents leave Chalmette for work: only 16% work in town. Chalmette’s average trip to work is 29 minutes. The top destinations are New Orleans (32%), Metairie (9%) and Elmwood (3%).

16%work in town
ChalmetteLouisiana townsU.S. towns
Average trip to work29 minutes24 minutes25 minutes
Working residents who work in town16%9.8%8%
Median household income$55,000$56,000$80,000
Work from home8.9%5.6%11%

Where working residents work

In Chalmette16%
New Orleans32%
Metairie9%
Elmwood3%
Kenner3%
8 mi
median commute distance
8,024
jobs based in Chalmette
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 76% of U.S. towns
Full pageChalmette’s work & commute pageOpen the page
The jobs here8,024 jobs based here · BalancedWhere people work16% work in ChalmetteCommute times29 minutes · The average commuteHow far they goHalf commute less than 8 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

HousingCost of living grade C+

The typical home in Chalmette is valued at about $215K

The typical value, about $215K, is 15% below its August 2022 peak.

The typical Chalmette home is worth about $215,000, up 3% in a year, close to the Louisiana typical home. 61% of Chalmette households own their home.

$215KZillow home value
ChalmetteLouisiana townsU.S. towns
Households that own their home61%68%73%
Median rent$1,110 a month$989 a month$1,185 a month

Typical home value

Chalmette$215K
Louisiana$214K
Market temperature
BalancedA balanced marketBuyer’sSeller’s
51
days on market
98.3%
sale-to-list price
+3%
value change, 1 year
20
homes sold in May
Full pageChalmette’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page
Prices over the yearsUp 3% in a yearYears of income to buyA typical home costs 3.9 years of incomeRents$1,110 a month · Median rentVs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 3 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Chalmette

18pages on Chalmette
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 79% of LA districts · 6 schoolsHealthDBetter than LA on 2 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$215K typical home · up 3% in a yearWork & commuteC−$55K median household income · 8,024 jobs hereNatural hazardsD−FEMA risk higher than 94% of U.S. communities · hurricanes
Out and about
OutdoorsB−2 mi of trails · 4% conserved landPlacesAttractions43 nearby · Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve under 1 miLibrarySt. Bernard Parish LibraryCollegesNunez Community College, in town
The story
HistoryBFounded 1720 · 2 on the National RegisterFamous people2 born in ChalmetteClimate91° summer highs
Day to day
News1 recent stories about ChalmetteWeatherHandbookZIP code 70043, 70044Town SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

14 within 15 miles of the center of Chalmette

Nunez Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · ChalmetteIn town$4,255 in-state tuitionUniversity of Holy CrossUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · New Orleans2.8 mi$16,576 tuitionLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New OrleansUniversity or college · Public · New Orleans7.1 mi

About 7 of every 100 Chalmette residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Louisiana.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A growing town

Chalmette has grown 29% from 2010 to 2020

16,751 counted in 2010 and 21,562 in 2020.

16,7512010
21,5622020

U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts

About Chalmette

Census-designated place in Louisiana, United States

Chalmette ( shal-MET) is a census-designated place (CDP) in, and the parish seat of, St. Bernard Parish in southeastern Louisiana, United States. The 2010 census reported that Chalmette had 16,751 people; 2011 population was listed as 17,119; however, the pre-Katrina population was 32,069 at the 2000 census. At the 2020 U.S. census, its population rebounded to 21,562. Chalmette is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner metropolitan statistical area. Chalmette is located east of downtown New Orleans and south of Arabi, towards Lake Borgne. The community was named for plantation owner Louis-Xavier Martin de Lino de Chalmette. Chalmette was appended to the family name after acquiring their Lo…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area
8.0 sq mi
Elevation
3 ft
ZIP code
70043, 70044

Chalmette’s neighbors

3 towns share a border with Chalmette.

Explore the map →
ArabiMerauxNew OrleansArabiMerauxNew OrleansChalmette
Arabi
W · 2% of Chalmette workers commute here
Visit
Meraux
E
Visit
New Orleans
N · 32% of Chalmette workers commute here
Visit
How the neighbors grade
TownLA rankOverallCostSafetySchoolsHealth
Chalmette#98C−C+—A−D
Arabi#86CB−—A−D
Meraux#37B−B—A−C−
New Orleans#159D−D—D−C+

Chalmette, Arabi, Meraux and New Orleans report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Chalmette with a neighbor →

Questions about Chalmette

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Chalmette, LA a good place to live?

Chalmette grades C− overall, better than 21% of U.S. towns and #98 of 161 in Louisiana. It grades D for health and A− for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D−.

Is Chalmette, LA expensive?

That is 3.4 years of the area's median household income ($62,655 across the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.

What is Chalmette, LA known for?

2 notable people were born here, including Tommy Manzella and Barry Keim.