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Living in
Gulfport.
About
Life in Gulfport
Living in Gulfport means settling into a working port city that happens to have beaches—not the other way around. The military and maritime sectors are stable employment anchors, and the low unemployment rate of 3.6% reflects genuine job availability in healthcare, construction, and hospitality. Median home values around $175,000 and median household income near $50,000 make it more affordable than many coastal areas, though rent averages $1,086 monthly.
Gulfport at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
22.8%
Foreign-Born
3.9%
Broadband Internet
86.0%
of households
Population Growth
+4.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.9% foreign-born, most often from Honduras
Who lives in Gulfport: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Gulfport, the largest foreign-born group is from Honduras (26.8%), and 4.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.3%
of residents
65 and Older
16.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.5%
of households
Married Couples
31.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.43
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 14% above MS average
Rent, home values, and income in Gulfport
In Gulfport, rent runs 14% above the MS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,253
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1986
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $206,122 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MS
Unemployment in Gulfport
Unemployment in Gulfport is close to the MS average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Gulfport Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.9 min avg
How Gulfport residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Gulfport, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Gulfport Biloxi International Airport (GPT)
Regional airport · few flights435k passengers boarded in 2025
- 74 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 73% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Gulfport runs 73% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
568.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,547.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Gulfport Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Harrison County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Harrison County, which includes Gulfport, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Excessive Heat | $261,700 |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $105,000 |
| 2023 | 37 | Excessive Heat | $28,350 |
| 2022 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $25,000 |
| 2021 | 15 | Flash Flood | $1.0M |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $53,000 |
| 2019 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 7 | Flash Flood | $50,000 |
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
Harrison County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Harrison County, which includes Gulfport, is typically good — 252 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
252
per year
Moderate Days
113
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Harrison County, county-wide
Climate90°F summers, 44°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Gulfport has warm summers (avg high 90°F) and mild winters (avg low 44°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/59°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/74°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/60°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
63°/44°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
62.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.2"
Hot Days/Year
69
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
16
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
117
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61°F | 42°F | 4.87" |
| Feb | 65°F | 46°F | 4.44" |
| Mar | 70°F | 52°F | 5.22" |
| Apr | 77°F | 58°F | 5.51" |
| May | 84°F | 66°F | 4.74" |
| Jun | 89°F | 73°F | 6.89" |
| Jul | 90°F | 75°F | 7.21" |
| Aug | 91°F | 75°F | 6.53" |
| Sep | 88°F | 71°F | 5.18" |
| Oct | 80°F | 60°F | 3.71" |
| Nov | 70°F | 49°F | 4.03" |
| Dec | 64°F | 45°F | 4.49" |
Healthcare4 hospitals, avg 2.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Gulfport
Gulfport has 4 hospitals, averaging 2.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
4
within city limits
Uninsured
15.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.5 / 5
Memorial Hospital at Gulfport
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Singing River Gulfport
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Gulfport Behavioral Health System
Psychiatric
Oceans Behavioral Hospital- Biloxi
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
VA Gulf Coast Healthcare System
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 7.4 mi away · Biloxi
81st Medical Group (keesler Afb)
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 9.4 mi away · Biloxi
Memorial Hospital Biloxi
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.8 mi away · Biloxi
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.
Education14.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Gulfport
Gulfport's student/teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 23.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
21
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, 67 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Gulfport
Gulfport has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park (67 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
National Historical Park
67 mi awayJean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
National Historical Park and Preserve
76 mi awayPublic Libraries in Gulfport
Orange Grove Public Library
12135 Old Highway 49, Gulfport
Gulfport Public Library
1708 25th Avenue, Gulfport
Cities Near Gulfport
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Gulfport?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Gulfport FAQ
Is Gulfport, Mississippi affordable?⌄
Gulfport's median rent is $1,086/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $49,919/year. Median home value is $174,600.
Is Gulfport, Mississippi safe?⌄
Gulfport's violent crime rate was 569 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3548 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Gulfport, Mississippi?⌄
Gulfport has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Gulfport, Mississippi?⌄
The cost of living in Gulfport is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,086/month and median household income is $49,919/year. The median home value is $174,600. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Gulfport, Mississippi?⌄
The average commute in Gulfport is 22 minutes, which is about 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