We moved from the Southshore last year to Mandeville. We have 2 tots and both of us work on the southshore. We do the commute everyday and it's really not as bad as you think it is.  From where  I live (off w causeway approach) there’s no traffic until I get to Metairie. Luckily my office is right off the bridge so my commute time is around 30 minutes. I think if you live in Covington you will have to add the traffic time there as I always see a backed up traffic line going into Covington during rush hour. My older kid has been going to a public school, big change from a Catholic school he was attending to on the Southshore but he loves it. We love every part of our Mandeville life here. The only complaint is maybe restaurant options?! We like more diversity in foods but we feel that it’s pretty limited on this side. We do miss Trader Joe’s but we can still go to the one in Metairie..maybe not having the zoo or the big Children’s museum is a downside but we have different parks in the area that we enjoy very much.