© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Southaven.
About
Life in Southaven
Southaven functions as a bedroom community for Memphis workers, and the 24-minute average commute via I-55 is reasonable for the region, though you're trading walkability for suburban sprawl and car dependency. Housing is moderately priced compared to Memphis proper—expect around $236,000 for a median home—with a tight rental market (13.9% vacancy) and rents averaging $1,445 monthly. The job market is solid with a 3.5% unemployment rate and a 65% employment rate, plus decent income stability with a median household income near $78,000-$78,000.
Southaven at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.6%
Foreign-Born
3.4%
Broadband Internet
93.5%
of households
Population Growth
+5.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Southaven: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Southaven, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (24.9%), and 3.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.5%
of residents
65 and Older
13.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.4%
of households
Married Couples
47.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.63
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 51% above MS average
Rent, home values, and income in Southaven
In Southaven, rent runs 51% above the MS average, and home values are 39% above the MS average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,515
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
72.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1998
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $273,449 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MS
Unemployment in Southaven
Unemployment in Southaven 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 Southaven Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute24 min avg
How Southaven residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Southaven, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 64% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Frederick W. Smith International Airport (MEM)
Small hub2.4M 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 19% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Southaven runs 19% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
266.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,655.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Southaven Police Department
Natural DisastersHeat most common — 27 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
DeSoto County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In DeSoto County, which includes Southaven, the most common type is heat, with 27 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | Heat | $997,000 |
| 2024 | 21 | Excessive Heat | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 31 | Heat | $2.1M |
| 2022 | 23 | Heat | $100,000 |
| 2021 | 14 | Heat | $62,000 |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.3M |
| 2019 | 19 | Heat | $902,500 |
| 2018 | 16 | Heat | $5,500 |
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.
6 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
DeSoto County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in DeSoto County, which includes Southaven, is typically good — 252 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
252
per year
Moderate Days
112
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
DeSoto County, county-wide
Climate91°F summers, 35°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Southaven has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 35°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/53°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/72°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
53°/35°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
59.4"
Annual Snowfall
1.4"
Hot Days/Year
72
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
45
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
100
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 33°F | 4.14" |
| Feb | 56°F | 37°F | 4.55" |
| Mar | 64°F | 44°F | 5.74" |
| Apr | 73°F | 53°F | 5.87" |
| May | 82°F | 62°F | 5.27" |
| Jun | 89°F | 70°F | 3.99" |
| Jul | 92°F | 74°F | 4.82" |
| Aug | 92°F | 73°F | 3.37" |
| Sep | 86°F | 66°F | 3.03" |
| Oct | 75°F | 54°F | 3.98" |
| Nov | 63°F | 43°F | 4.69" |
| Dec | 53°F | 36°F | 5.49" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Southaven
Southaven has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Baptist Memorial Hospital Desoto
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Parkwood Behavioral Health System
Psychiatric · 7.6 mi away · Olive Branch
Delta Specialty Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.4 mi away · Memphis
Methodist Healthcare - Olive Branch Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.8 mi away · Olive Branch
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.
Education15.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Southaven
Southaven's student/teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 28.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
28.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Southaven (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 12,701 students · in-state tuition $11,256 · 53% graduate · median earnings $52,227 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,836 students · in-state tuition $59,082 · 82% graduate · median earnings $79,506 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 1,784 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 12% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 905 students · in-state tuition $39,750 · 59% graduate · median earnings $55,642 (10 yrs after entry)
Baptist Health Sciences University
13.2 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 770 students · in-state tuition $14,036 · 49% graduate · median earnings $70,235 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 581 students · in-state tuition $12,778 · 28% graduate · median earnings $41,221 (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: Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, 71 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Southaven
Southaven has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument (71 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument
National Monument
71 mi awayBrices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site
National Battlefield Site
77 mi awayTrail Of Tears National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
78 mi awayNatchez Trace National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
84 mi awayTupelo National Battlefield
National Battlefield
85 mi awayShiloh National Military Park
National Military Park
93 mi awayNatchez Trace Parkway
Parkway
97 mi awayArkansas Post National Memorial
National Memorial
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Southaven
M. R. Davis Public Library
8554 Northwest Drive, Southaven
Cities Near Southaven
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Southaven?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Southaven FAQ
Is Southaven, Mississippi affordable?⌄
Southaven's median rent is $1,445/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $78,483/year. Median home value is $236,300.
Is Southaven, Mississippi safe?⌄
Southaven's violent crime rate was 266 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1655 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Southaven, Mississippi?⌄
Southaven has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Southaven, Mississippi?⌄
The cost of living in Southaven is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,445/month and median household income is $78,483/year. The median home value is $236,300. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Southaven, Mississippi?⌄
The average commute in Southaven 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