Best places to live in Mississippi
CityLedger tracks 3 Mississippi metros, led by Jackson. Cost of living runs from about 88 to 90 against a U.S. average of 100. Every figure below is computed from public U.S. government data and links to a full profile.
CityLedger tracks 3 metros in Mississippi, the largest being the Jackson, MS Metro Area (around 605,803 people). Across the state, median household income runs from $61,871 in Hattiesburg to $65,256 in Gulfport, and typical rent from $1,096 a month in Hattiesburg upward — a reminder that "Mississippi" is really several different housing and job markets, not one.
Hattiesburg has the lowest overall price level in the state (about 88 versus a U.S. average of 100), but the cheapest metro isn't always where money goes furthest. Adjusting income for local prices, Jackson delivers the best real buying power — a cost-adjusted median of about $72,809.
Taxes shift the picture in ways a cost-of-living index alone misses: Mississippi levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower here than in no-income-tax states at the same salary, and combined state and local sales tax averages about 7.1% (Tax Foundation). Our salary calculator folds federal, FICA, and Mississippi state tax into a single take-home figure for any metro here.
Jackson earns the state's highest CityLedger livability score, 39/100; Gulfport is the fastest-growing, up 2.2% over the latest population estimate; Hattiesburg carries the lowest natural-hazard loss rate, about $14 per $10,000 of property (FEMA). Open any metro below for the full, sourced breakdown behind these figures.
| Metro | Livability | Cost of living | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, MS | 39 | 89 | $64,835 | $1,100/mo |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 37 | 88 | $61,871 | $1,096/mo |
| Gulfport, MS | 36 | 90 | $65,256 | $1,146/mo |
Browse every metro on the cities index or the rankings.
Living in Mississippi — frequently asked
- What is the most affordable metro in Mississippi?
- By overall price level, Hattiesburg is the most affordable metro in Mississippi, at about 88 against a U.S. average of 100 (BEA Regional Price Parities). Affordability also depends on local pay — see where a paycheck stretches furthest below.
- Where does a paycheck go furthest in Mississippi?
- Jackson has the highest cost-adjusted income in Mississippi — a median of about $72,809 once local prices are factored in, meaning typical pay buys the most there.
- Does Mississippi have a state income tax?
- Yes. Mississippi levies a state income tax, which lowers take-home pay relative to no-income-tax states; combined state and local sales tax also averages about 7.1%. Our salary calculator estimates the exact take-home for each metro.
- Which Mississippi metro has the highest livability score?
- Jackson, at 39/100 on CityLedger's livability score — a transparent blend of affordability, jobs, income, education, and commute, all from public data.