If you’re as old as Mississippi’s name is long, you’re about ready to retire.
And there’s no better time than now to start thinking about where you will spend your retirement years.
The Magnolia State is pretty great. So great that we created a list of the best places to retire in Mississippi for 2024. To identify the best places to retire, we looked at the FBI and Census data for 32 cities with 10,000 residents. We considered important factors like crime, affordability, rent, and how close a place is to an international airport.
In general, Mississippi is a solid choice for retirement. The state does not tax retirement income, and its property tax is the lowest in the country.
You’ll have extra funds to spend on a beach vacation to Gulfport or a little leftover cash to take your honey out to a nice fried alligator dinner at Snappers in Biloxi.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Mississippi For 2024
What is Mississippi’s best place to retire? The best place to retire in Mississippi is Brandon.
Look below to learn more about the rest of Mississippi’s best places to spend your golden years.
Why did Brandon take the top spot? And where are Jackson and Gulfport?
For more Mississippi state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Mississippi
- Cheapest Places To Live In Mississippi
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Mississippi
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Mississippi For 2024
/10
Population: 25,142
Median Income: $89,051
Median Home Price: $272,442
Median Rent: $1,110
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on Brandon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,714
Median Income: $32,869
Median Home Price: $166,022
Median Rent: $673
Distance to Closest Airport: 54 miles
More on Brookhaven: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 17,262
Median Income: $69,761
Median Home Price: $326,012
Median Rent: $1,079
Distance to Closest Airport: 13 miles
More on Hernando: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 14,520
Median Income: $40,546
Median Home Price: $144,798
Median Rent: $641
Distance to Closest Airport: 83 miles
More on Corinth: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,804
Median Income: $35,649
Median Home Price: $183,125
Median Rent: $873
Distance to Closest Airport: 50 miles
More on Picayune: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 21,337
Median Income: $45,147
Median Home Price: $161,758
Median Rent: $836
Distance to Closest Airport: 47 miles
More on Vicksburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 14,380
Median Income: $31,800
Median Home Price: $118,158
Median Rent: $736
Distance to Closest Airport: 70 miles
More on Natchez: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 10,063
Median Income: $32,846
Median Home Price: $124,955
Median Rent: $711
Distance to Closest Airport: 109 miles
More on West Point: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 16,809
Median Income: $66,573
Median Home Price: $225,244
Median Rent: $1,132
Distance to Closest Airport: 70 miles
More on Long Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 17,241
Median Income: $36,336
Median Home Price: $133,004
Median Rent: $738
Distance to Closest Airport: 69 miles
More on Laurel: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Magnolia State for 2024
To create our ranking of the best places in Mississippi to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Magnolia State — 362 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 32 places from across the state.
For these 32, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 32, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Brandon, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2024. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in Mississippi.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Mississippi Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Mississippi goes to Brandon.
The best places to retire in Mississippi are Brandon, Brookhaven, Hernando, Corinth, Picayune, Vicksburg, Natchez, West Point, Long Beach, and Laurel.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Biloxi
- D’Iberville
- Starkville
For more Mississippi reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Mississippi
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon | 25,142 | $89,051 | $272,442 | $1,110 |
| 2 | Brookhaven | 11,714 | $32,869 | $166,022 | $673 |
| 3 | Hernando | 17,262 | $69,761 | $326,012 | $1,079 |
| 4 | Corinth | 14,520 | $40,546 | $144,798 | $641 |
| 5 | Picayune | 11,804 | $35,649 | $183,125 | $873 |
| 6 | Vicksburg | 21,337 | $45,147 | $161,758 | $836 |
| 7 | Natchez | 14,380 | $31,800 | $118,158 | $736 |
| 8 | West Point | 10,063 | $32,846 | $124,955 | $711 |
| 9 | Long Beach | 16,809 | $66,573 | $225,244 | $1,132 |
| 10 | Laurel | 17,241 | $36,336 | $133,004 | $738 |
