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Living in
Pearl.
About
Life in Pearl
Housing is reasonable—median homes around $183,000 with rents in the $1,180 range—and jobs are fairly stable with unemployment around 2.6% and employment concentrated in healthcare, retail, and education. The commute to Jackson proper averages about 25 minutes, which is manageable but worth factoring in if you're working downtown. That said, Pearl is very car-dependent suburban sprawl; it's not a walkable downtown experience, though Main Street Pearl has been revitalization efforts underway.
Pearl at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.2%
Foreign-Born
4.0%
Broadband Internet
92.7%
of households
Population Growth
+6.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Pearl: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Pearl, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (22.4%), and 5.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.2%
of residents
65 and Older
14.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.6%
of households
Married Couples
38.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.46
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 23% above MS average
Rent, home values, and income in Pearl
In Pearl, rent runs 23% above the MS average, and home values are 7% above the MS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
89.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,209
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1982
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $212,427 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.2 pts below MS average
Unemployment in Pearl
Unemployment in Pearl is 1.2 percentage points lower than the MS average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Pearl Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.8 min avg
How Pearl residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Pearl, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
Small hub600k 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 75% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Pearl runs 75% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
83.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
645.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Pearl Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
85.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Rankin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Rankin County, which includes Pearl, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $426,500 |
| 2024 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.2M |
| 2023 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8.9M |
| 2022 | 32 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.6M |
| 2021 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $753,100 |
| 2020 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $839,000 |
| 2019 | 22 | Flash Flood | $1.0M |
| 2018 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $804,000 |
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
Rankin 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 22 miles from Pearl) 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 (22 mi away)
Climate91°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Pearl has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/55°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
57.3"
Annual Snowfall
1.0"
Hot Days/Year
85
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
40
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
110
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 37°F | 5.42" |
| Feb | 62°F | 40°F | 5.10" |
| Mar | 69°F | 46°F | 5.68" |
| Apr | 77°F | 53°F | 5.84" |
| May | 84°F | 62°F | 4.36" |
| Jun | 90°F | 69°F | 4.43" |
| Jul | 92°F | 72°F | 5.02" |
| Aug | 92°F | 72°F | 4.69" |
| Sep | 88°F | 66°F | 3.48" |
| Oct | 78°F | 54°F | 3.80" |
| Nov | 67°F | 44°F | 4.40" |
| Dec | 60°F | 39°F | 5.13" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Pearl
Uninsured
13.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Pearl's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Whitfield Medical Surgical Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 2.6 mi away · Whitfield
Ms State Hospital-whitfield
Psychiatric · ER available · 2.6 mi away · Whitfield
Crossgates River Oaks Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.4 mi away · Brandon
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.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Pearl
Pearl's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 28.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Pearl (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 4,600 students · in-state tuition $9,635 · 40% graduate · median earnings $42,075 (10 yrs after entry)
Mississippi Christian University
14.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,518 students · in-state tuition $24,600 · 58% graduate · median earnings $54,122 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,471 students · in-state tuition $30,400 · 45% graduate · median earnings $50,101 (10 yrs after entry)
Strayer University-Mississippi
5.9 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 882 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 8% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 639 students · in-state tuition $12,628 · 35% graduate · median earnings $41,624 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 549 students · in-state tuition $45,570 · 56% graduate · median earnings $65,503 (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, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Pearl
Pearl has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
National Monument
8 mi awayVicksburg National Military Park
National Military Park
45 mi awayPoverty Point National Monument
National Monument
81 mi awayNatchez National Historical Park
National Historical Park
91 mi awayPublic Libraries in Pearl
Pearl Public Library
2416 Old Brandon Road, Pearl
Cities Near Pearl
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Pearl?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Pearl FAQ
Is Pearl, Mississippi affordable?⌄
Pearl's median rent is $1,175/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $61,695/year. Median home value is $182,500.
Is Pearl, Mississippi safe?⌄
Pearl's violent crime rate was 83 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 646 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Pearl, Mississippi?⌄
Pearl has an unemployment rate of 2.6%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Pearl, Mississippi?⌄
The cost of living in Pearl is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,175/month and median household income is $61,695/year. The median home value is $182,500. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Pearl, Mississippi?⌄
The average commute in Pearl is 24 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