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Living in
Picayune.
About
Life in Picayune
Picayune is a community of 11,839 people in Mississippi. The median household income is $41,213, median rent runs about $931 per month, and median home values are around $157,100. Unemployment is low at 3.7%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Picayune at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.6%
Foreign-Born
2.1%
Broadband Internet
84.9%
of households
Population Growth
+1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.1% foreign-born, most often from Honduras
Who lives in Picayune: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Picayune, the largest foreign-born group is from Honduras (37.2%), and 3.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.8%
of residents
65 and Older
19.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.7%
of households
Married Couples
32.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.57
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 Picayune
In Picayune, home values are 7% below the MS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.1%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,302
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
18.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $192,131 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MS
Unemployment in Picayune
Unemployment in Pearl River County, which includes Picayune, is close to the MS average.
Unemployment rate
Picayune: Pearl River County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Pearl River County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Picayune Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute32.1 min avg
How Picayune residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Picayune, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 37 mi
Gulfport Biloxi International Airport (GPT)
Regional airport · few flights435k passengers boarded in 2025
- 51 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Picayune is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
315.3
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,825.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Picayune Police Department
Natural DisastersExcessive Heat most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
86.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Pearl River County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Pearl River County, which includes Picayune, the most common type is excessive heat, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $110,000 |
| 2024 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $43,000 |
| 2023 | 31 | Excessive Heat | $138,500 |
| 2022 | 3 | Hail | $5,000 |
| 2021 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2020 | 3 | Tornado | $15.0M |
| 2019 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $850,000 |
| 2018 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $75,000 |
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
Pearl River County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hancock County, MS (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 15 miles from Picayune) is typically good — 256 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
256
per year
Moderate Days
109
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Hancock County, MS (15 mi away)
Climate91°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Picayune has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/55°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
64°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
66.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
71
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
31
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
97
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 38°F | 6.39" |
| Feb | 66°F | 41°F | 4.87" |
| Mar | 72°F | 47°F | 5.21" |
| Apr | 78°F | 53°F | 5.90" |
| May | 85°F | 61°F | 5.02" |
| Jun | 89°F | 68°F | 6.55" |
| Jul | 92°F | 71°F | 6.46" |
| Aug | 91°F | 71°F | 6.38" |
| Sep | 88°F | 66°F | 4.86" |
| Oct | 81°F | 55°F | 5.04" |
| Nov | 71°F | 45°F | 4.31" |
| Dec | 65°F | 40°F | 5.73" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Picayune
Picayune has 1 hospital, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
13.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Highland Community Hospital
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.
Education15.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Picayune
Picayune's student/teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 16.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
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, 46 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Picayune
Picayune has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park (46 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
National Historical Park
46 mi awayJean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
National Historical Park and Preserve
57 mi awayPublic Libraries in Picayune
Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library
900 Goodyear Boulevard, Picayune
Cities Near Picayune
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Picayune?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Picayune FAQ
Is Picayune, Mississippi affordable?⌄
Picayune's median rent is $931/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $41,213/year. Median home value is $157,100.
Is Picayune, Mississippi safe?⌄
Picayune's violent crime rate was 315 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1825 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Picayune, Mississippi?⌄
Pearl River County, which includes Picayune, 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 Picayune, Mississippi?⌄
The cost of living in Picayune is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $931/month and median household income is $41,213/year. The median home value is $157,100. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Picayune, Mississippi?⌄
The average commute in Picayune is 32 minutes, which is longer 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