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Living in
Brookhaven.
About
Life in Brookhaven
Brookhaven is a community of 11,656 people in Mississippi. The median household income is $36,685, and median rent runs about $736 per month. Unemployment is low at 4.0%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Brookhaven at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
28.6%
Foreign-Born
1.2%
Broadband Internet
88.9%
of households
Population Growth
-0.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.2% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Brookhaven: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Brookhaven, the largest foreign-born group is from India (51.9%), and 1.0% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
21.6%
of residents
65 and Older
19.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.7%
of households
Married Couples
29.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.40
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 22% below MS average
Rent, home values, and income in Brookhaven
In Brookhaven, rent runs 22% below the MS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.4%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,364
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
53.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Vacant Homes
18.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $159,912 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MS
Unemployment in Brookhaven
Unemployment in Lincoln County, which includes Brookhaven, is close to the MS average.
Unemployment rate
Brookhaven: Lincoln County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Lincoln County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Commute18.5 min avg
How Brookhaven residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Brookhaven, most residents drive alone to work (88%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 55 mi
Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
Small hub600k passengers boarded in 2025
- 110 mi
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Medium hub6.2M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 24% below national average
Crime rates for 2023
Older dataThe latest complete year reported to the FBI is 2023. It's compared with the national rate for 2023.
Violent crime in Brookhaven runs 24% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
293.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (386 national, 2023)
Property Crime Rate
3,028.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,951 national, 2023)
Brookhaven Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
48.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lincoln County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lincoln County, which includes Brookhaven, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $87,500 |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $905,000 |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $407,000 |
| 2021 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $551,000 |
| 2020 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $275,000 |
| 2019 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $742,000 |
| 2018 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $110,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lincoln County, county-wide
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hinds County, MS (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 48 miles from Brookhaven) is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
167
per year
Moderate Days
198
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Hinds County, MS (48 mi away)
Climate89°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Brookhaven has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
75°/53°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
77°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
61.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
69
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
47
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
99
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 36°F | 6.52" |
| Feb | 62°F | 40°F | 5.88" |
| Mar | 69°F | 46°F | 5.71" |
| Apr | 75°F | 52°F | 5.84" |
| May | 82°F | 61°F | 4.44" |
| Jun | 88°F | 69°F | 4.57" |
| Jul | 90°F | 71°F | 5.71" |
| Aug | 90°F | 70°F | 5.14" |
| Sep | 86°F | 65°F | 4.30" |
| Oct | 78°F | 53°F | 3.64" |
| Nov | 67°F | 43°F | 4.19" |
| Dec | 59°F | 39°F | 5.64" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Brookhaven
Brookhaven has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
14.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
King's Daughters Medical Center-brookhaven
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Brookhaven
Brookhaven's student/teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 21.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, 54 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Brookhaven
Brookhaven has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument (54 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
National Monument
54 mi awayNatchez National Historical Park
National Historical Park
56 mi awayVicksburg National Military Park
National Military Park
59 mi awayPoverty Point National Monument
National Monument
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Brookhaven
Lincoln County Library
100 South Jackson Street, Brookhaven
Cities Near Brookhaven
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Brookhaven?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Brookhaven FAQ
Is Brookhaven, Mississippi affordable?⌄
Brookhaven's median rent is $740/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $36,685/year.
Is Brookhaven, Mississippi safe?⌄
Brookhaven's violent crime rate was 293 per 100,000 residents in 2023, which is below the national average of 386/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3029 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Brookhaven, Mississippi?⌄
Lincoln County, which includes Brookhaven, has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Brookhaven, Mississippi?⌄
The cost of living in Brookhaven is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $740/month and median household income is $36,685/year. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Brookhaven, Mississippi?⌄
The average commute in Brookhaven is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from