What it's like to live in Flowood
Flowood is a small city in Mississippi with county unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Flowood deals with hospital ratings below the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, hot summers, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Flowood compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Flowood
Based on Flowood's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,860
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $57,200 a year
- 51% of Flowood renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$68,440
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $34,220
- Homes cost 4.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,430/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,430 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $342,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $342,200 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
2.8% county unemployment
Unemployment in Rankin County is 2.8%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Rankin County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 56% below US
146 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1946/100k · Flowood Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 17% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 38°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
3 hospitals
There are 3 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 1.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 53% above US
55% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument (8 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Flowood's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are hospital ratings below the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,430/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Flowood
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