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Living in
Hattiesburg.
About
Life in Hattiesburg
If you're considering Hattiesburg, understand that this is fundamentally a college town where university life influences the overall vibe—both the energy it brings and the occasional student-centered chaos that comes with it. Cost of living is genuinely affordable—median home values around $165,900 and median rent near $995 monthly—which is a real advantage if you're watching your budget. That said, summers are genuinely hot and humid with the subtropical climate, and the area does face real weather risks: tornadoes hit here periodically (including significant ones in 2013 and 2017), and severe thunderstorms are common in spring.
Hattiesburg at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
29.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
28.3%
Foreign-Born
3.4%
Broadband Internet
86.8%
of households
Population Growth
+0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Hattiesburg: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hattiesburg, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (16.6%), and 2.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.9%
of residents
65 and Older
13.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.4%
of households
Married Couples
27.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.14
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 about average for MS
Rent, home values, and income in Hattiesburg
Rent and home values here are close to the MS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
87.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,486
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
37.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1981
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $217,822 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MS
Unemployment in Hattiesburg
Unemployment in Hattiesburg 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 Hattiesburg Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.4 min avg
How Hattiesburg residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hattiesburg, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 85% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Hattiesburg Laurel Regional Airport (PIB)
Regional airport · few flights18k passengers boarded in 2025
- 108 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 22% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hattiesburg runs 22% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
255.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,592.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hattiesburg Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 8 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
78.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Forrest County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Forrest County, which includes Hattiesburg, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 8 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $924,000 |
| 2023 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $311,000 |
| 2022 | 24 | Flash Flood | $1.9M |
| 2021 | 12 | Flash Flood | $230,000 |
| 2020 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $385,000 |
| 2019 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.9M |
| 2018 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.2M |
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
Forrest County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Forrest County, which includes Hattiesburg, is typically good — 226 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
226
per year
Moderate Days
137
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Forrest County, county-wide
Climate91°F summers, 40°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hattiesburg has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 40°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/56°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
62°/40°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
61.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.9"
Hot Days/Year
85
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
32
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 38°F | 6.50" |
| Feb | 64°F | 41°F | 5.68" |
| Mar | 71°F | 48°F | 5.89" |
| Apr | 78°F | 54°F | 5.70" |
| May | 84°F | 62°F | 4.53" |
| Jun | 90°F | 70°F | 5.26" |
| Jul | 91°F | 72°F | 6.44" |
| Aug | 91°F | 72°F | 6.26" |
| Sep | 88°F | 67°F | 4.82" |
| Oct | 79°F | 56°F | 3.54" |
| Nov | 69°F | 46°F | 3.85" |
| Dec | 62°F | 40°F | 5.97" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg has 2 hospitals, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
11.7%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Forrest General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Merit Health Wesley
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
South Mississippi State Hospital
Psychiatric · 11.5 mi away · Purvis
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.
Education12.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg's student/teacher ratio is 12.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 37.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
37.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Hattiesburg
University of Southern Mississippi
Public · 4-year · 10,075 students · in-state tuition $10,394 · 53% graduate · median earnings $47,355 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,201 students · in-state tuition $15,900 · 66% graduate · median earnings $46,286 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, 89 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument (89 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
National Monument
89 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg Public Library
329 Hardy Street, Hattiesburg
Cities Near Hattiesburg
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hattiesburg?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hattiesburg FAQ
Is Hattiesburg, Mississippi affordable?⌄
Hattiesburg's median rent is $1,005/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $46,342/year. Median home value is $165,900.
Is Hattiesburg, Mississippi safe?⌄
Hattiesburg's violent crime rate was 256 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3592 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hattiesburg, Mississippi?⌄
Hattiesburg has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hattiesburg, Mississippi?⌄
The cost of living in Hattiesburg is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,005/month and median household income is $46,342/year. The median home value is $165,900. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hattiesburg, Mississippi?⌄
The average commute in Hattiesburg is 17 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