NorbertRillieuxSchool, 2009
Waggaman’s story
144 years in pictures
Census counts: 9,004 in 1980, 9,835 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 7 maps from 1891 on.
- 1882Waggaman is settled
WaggamanLA
This town of 11,330 people was settled in 1882.
Population
11,330
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$170K
Census ACS
Household income
$68K
median
Median age
33.0
years
Jobs based here
1,451
A commuter town
TownGrade
D
#144 of 161 in LA
Is Waggaman a good place to live?
Waggaman’s overall grade is D, better than 6% of U.S. towns. Its place in the ranking is 144th of 161 in Louisiana. Health is its weak spot (D−): residents are less healthy than 96% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. It lags on walkability as well (C−). Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 81% of U.S. towns. Hazard risk is weaker too: FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 94% of U.S. communities, with hurricanes at the top. A typical home there costs about $170K, 2.7 years of the New Orleans metro’s $63K median household income. Schools are its strong suit: its schools outperform 57% of the state's.
Figures: schools, state test and graduation results · health, CDC PLACES · FEMA National Risk Index · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Waggaman for work
Where Waggaman’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,451jobs based in Waggaman
3%of working residents work in town
9 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Waggaman grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Louisiana), ordered by how far Waggaman is from typical.
Hazard riskHurricanes top the listD−Open →HealthOchsner Medical Center Acute 5.5 miles awayD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5 of 20; 10.5% of households have no car; 1.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →Jobs & income$68K median household income; 1,451 jobs based hereCOpen →SchoolsBased on how pupils do in exams and testsBOpen →Cost of livingNear typical for the towns comparedC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trails; 1% conserved landC−Open →HistoryAmong the weakest of the towns comparedDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 43 attractions →Caesars Superdome and 39 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Waggaman. Close and well known come first.
Big draw9 mi Stadium & arenaCaesars Superdome
Big draw19 mi LakeLake Pontchartrain
10 mi MuseumNational World War II Museum707K visitors a year
26 mi MuseumWhitney Plantation Historic District
6 mi Zoo & aquariumAudubon Zoo
6 mi National Historical ParkJean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve227K visitors a yearSources: 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 · Whitney Plantation Historic District: Bill Leiser, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Audubon Zoo: MeRyan, CC BY 2.0 · Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve: No machine-readable author provided. Jan Kronsell assumed (based on copyright cl, CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting set up
Moving to Waggaman: who provides what
Waggaman is unincorporated, so Jefferson Parish and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerEntergy Louisiana11.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterW Jefferson Ww District 21 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesJefferson ParishJefferson Parish provides services here
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.govWho runs elections hereJefferson Parish Registrar of VotersJefferson Parish; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Feb 2022
ZIP code7009470094 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 Waggaman.
Waggaman has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns and looks healthier within Louisiana than nationally, but it has many renters stretched by housing costs.
HealthD−
Waggaman’s grade for health is a D−
Within Louisiana it is less healthy than 61% of the 161 graded towns: much of Louisiana scores lower on these measures.
Waggaman: nearly half of adults have high blood pressure, where Louisiana’s towns sit at 44% and U.S. towns at 35%. Among 161 Louisiana towns, just 6 have a lower share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Waggaman. The share of adults in Waggaman who sleep under 7 hours: 47%. CDC measures, 32 in all: Waggaman beats Louisiana on 3 and trails on 14.
4%healthier than U.S. townsD−Health Grade
| Waggaman | Louisiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 16% | 12% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 47% | 42% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 49% | 44% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 37% | 33% |
32 measures vs. Louisiana
3 better15 too close to call14 worse
| What stands out | Waggaman | LA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6% | 7.5% |
| Fewer binge drinkers | 14.3% | 16.9% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 18.4% | 12.4% |
Ochsner Medical Center Acute
5.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
38th
percentile among LA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsB
Waggaman’s grade for schools is a B
Public schools: the Jefferson Parish school district. Its one school is below. Enrollment at Waggaman’s public school: 466 students.
57%of LA districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucille Cherbonnier SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 466 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within LA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Very high risk in Waggaman, with hurricanes at the top
Since 1978, Waggaman has seen 245 flood insurance claims paid out. 79% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from hurricanes, followed by inland flooding at 9%. Federal aid has come to Waggaman households in 7 declared disasters; the latest was in 2024.
94risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland flooding
245
paid flood claims since 1978
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
Most of Waggaman’s workers commute out: the town has 0.4 jobs for each of them
Commuting out is the norm in Waggaman: 3% of working residents work locally. Waggaman: 25% of residents live below the poverty line, above both the Louisiana town median (20%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). For Waggaman, the mean commuting time is 30 minutes. The top destinations are New Orleans (23%), Metairie (11%) and Elmwood (10%).
3%work in town
| Waggaman | Louisiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 25% | 20% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.6% | 9.8% | 8% |
| Median household income | $68,000 | $56,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Waggaman3%
New Orleans23%
Metairie11%
Elmwood10%
Kenner6%
9 mi
median commute distance
1,451
jobs based in Waggaman
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 19% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Expect mild winters and hot summers in Waggaman
January nights average 44.2°, milder than in 96% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 91.5°.
The town’s January low stands at 44°F. It almost never snows.
92°summer high
| Waggaman | Louisiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 44°F | 42°F | 22°F |
| July high | 92°F | 92°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter46–65°
Spring60–79°
Summer74–91°
Fall61–80°
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More children than Louisiana overall
18% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Waggaman. Children under 18 are 30% of residents (24% statewide). For Waggaman, the median age is 33 years.
33median age · LA 38
| Waggaman | Louisiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 30% | 24% | 22% |
| Median age | 33 years | 37.9 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 18% | 20% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 17% | 18% |
WaggamanLouisianaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma17%
High school37%
Some college26%
Associate’s3%
Bachelor’s7%
Graduate11%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±7.9 points. Across Louisiana, 51.1% of residents are women. Among residents 55 to 64, 74% are men (LA 48%).
| Waggaman | LA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.7% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 18.2% | 10.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.9% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.1% | 13.3% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 9.2% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 15% | 11.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 9.4% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10.9% | 10.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.6% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 17.3% | 12.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 36.8% | 32.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 25.5% | 20.4% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 2.5% | 7.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 7% | 17% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 10.9% | 10.1% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
OutdoorsC−
Open space protected for good: 0.7% of Waggaman
In Waggaman, the trail density is 0.1 miles per square mile. Trails total 0.3 miles in 2 parks and preserves.
0.7%conserved
| Waggaman | Louisiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 0.7% | 1.2% | 4.3% |
0.7%
conserved · 31 of 4,189 acres
0.3 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Thomas Jefferson Park | — | 11 |
| 2. Kennedy Heights Playground | — | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade C+
Homes in Waggaman sell for about $163K
73.6% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 54.8% across Louisiana.
Waggaman’s rent at the middle of the market comes in at $1,510 a month. On the market locally: a median 65 days to sell. Homes in Waggaman sold for 96.7% of their list price on average.
$163Kmedian sale price
| Waggaman | Louisiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,510 a month | $989 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 70% | 68% | 73% |
Market temperature
65
days on market
96.7%
sale-to-list price
7
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Waggaman
17pages on Waggaman
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
13 within 15 miles of the center of Waggaman
Chamberlain University-LouisianaUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Jefferson5 mi$19,975 tuitionDelgado Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · New Orleans8.3 mi$4,279 in-state tuitionLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New OrleansUniversity or college · Public · New Orleans9 mi
About 5 of every 100 Waggaman residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Louisiana.
About Waggaman
Census-designated place in Louisiana, United States
Waggaman is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. Waggaman is on the West Bank of the Mississippi River, within the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner metropolitan statistical area. The population was 9,835 at the 2020 census. The area was named for U.S. Senator George Augustus Waggaman (1782–1843).
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 6.6 sq mi
Waggaman’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with Waggaman.
All 3 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its D; Avondale (D) is closest.
AvondaleRiver RidgeHarahanWaggaman
How the neighbors grade
| Town | LA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waggaman | #144 | D | C+ | — | B | D− |
| Avondale | #140 | D | B | — | B | D− |
| River Ridge | #50 | C+ | C− | — | B | B |
| Harahan | #17 | B | C | B+ | B | B |
Waggaman, Avondale and River Ridge report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Waggaman with a neighbor →
Questions about Waggaman
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Waggaman, LA a good place to live?
Waggaman grades D overall, better than 6% of U.S. towns and #144 of 161 in Louisiana. It grades D− for health and B for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Waggaman, LA expensive?
The typical home is worth about $170,000, 20% below the Louisiana typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.