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Living in
Petal.
About
Life in Petal
Petal is a community of 11,195 people in Mississippi. The median household income is $74,750, median rent runs about $1,047 per month, and median home values are around $174,900. Unemployment is low at 3.6%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Petal at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.1%
Foreign-Born
3.4%
Broadband Internet
87.8%
of households
Population Growth
+5.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.4% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Petal: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Petal, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (37.5%), and 3.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.8%
of residents
65 and Older
15.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
41.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.0%
of households
Married Couples
51.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.79
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 10% above MS average
Rent, home values, and income in Petal
In Petal, rent runs 10% above the MS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
40.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
12.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
87.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,502
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $220,339 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MS
Unemployment in Petal
Unemployment in Forrest County, which includes Petal, is close to the MS average.
Unemployment rate
Petal: Forrest County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Forrest County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Petal Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.5 min avg
How Petal residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Petal, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Hattiesburg Laurel Regional Airport (PIB)
Regional airport · few flights18k passengers boarded in 2025
- 111 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 92% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Petal runs 92% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
25.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
497.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Petal 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 Petal, 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 Petal, 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
Petal 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°/55°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
62°/40°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
58.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.9"
Hot Days/Year
96
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
34
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
118
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 38°F | 5.82" |
| Feb | 65°F | 42°F | 4.88" |
| Mar | 72°F | 48°F | 5.57" |
| Apr | 78°F | 54°F | 5.37" |
| May | 85°F | 62°F | 4.44" |
| Jun | 90°F | 70°F | 5.85" |
| Jul | 92°F | 72°F | 5.70" |
| Aug | 92°F | 72°F | 4.75" |
| Sep | 88°F | 67°F | 4.15" |
| Oct | 80°F | 55°F | 3.70" |
| Nov | 69°F | 44°F | 3.70" |
| Dec | 62°F | 41°F | 4.98" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Petal
Uninsured
10.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Petal's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Forrest General Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.3 mi away · Hattiesburg
Merit Health Wesley
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.8 mi away · Hattiesburg
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.
Education13.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Petal
Petal's student/teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 27.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Petal (within 15 miles)
University of Southern Mississippi
5.8 mi awayPublic · 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 Petal
Petal 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 Petal
Petal Public Library
714 South Main Street, Petal
Cities Near Petal
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Petal?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Petal FAQ
Is Petal, Mississippi affordable?⌄
Petal's median rent is $1,047/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $74,750/year. Median home value is $174,900.
Is Petal, Mississippi safe?⌄
Petal's violent crime rate was 26 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 498 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Petal, Mississippi?⌄
Forrest County, which includes Petal, 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 Petal, Mississippi?⌄
The cost of living in Petal is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,047/month and median household income is $74,750/year. The median home value is $174,900. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Petal, Mississippi?⌄
The average commute in Petal 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