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 2026. To identify the best places to retire, we looked at the FBI and Census data for 23 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 2026
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 Southaven and Hattiesburg?
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 2026
/10
Population: 25,542
Median Income: $92,783
Median Home Price: $284,754
Median Rent: $1,382
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on Brandon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,949
Median Income: $76,950
Median Home Price: $344,671
Median Rent: $1,302
Distance to Closest Airport: 13 miles
More on Hernando: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 14,323
Median Income: $44,226
Median Home Price: $181,417
Median Rent: $601
Distance to Closest Airport: 83 miles
More on Corinth: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,900
Median Income: $41,213
Median Home Price: $193,808
Median Rent: $931
Distance to Closest Airport: 50 miles
More on Picayune: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 20,589
Median Income: $45,781
Median Home Price: $145,564
Median Rent: $820
Distance to Closest Airport: 47 miles
More on Vicksburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 27,946
Median Income: $119,338
Median Home Price: $410,431
Median Rent: $1,853
Distance to Closest Airport: 11 miles
More on Madison: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,799
Median Income: $70,445
Median Home Price: $222,108
Median Rent: $1,343
Distance to Closest Airport: 14 miles
More on Byram: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,009
Median Income: $70,332
Median Home Price: $232,929
Median Rent: $1,215
Distance to Closest Airport: 70 miles
More on Long Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 27,195
Median Income: $74,745
Median Home Price: $237,467
Median Rent: $1,118
Distance to Closest Airport: 15 miles
More on Clinton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,188
Median Income: $67,442
Median Home Price: $236,957
Median Rent: $1,179
Distance to Closest Airport: 58 miles
More on Bay St. Louis: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Magnolia State for 2026
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 23 places from across the state.
For these 23, 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 23, 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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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, Hernando, Corinth, Picayune, Vicksburg, Madison, Byram, Long Beach, Clinton, and Bay St. Louis.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Hattiesburg
- Oxford
- Gautier
For more Mississippi reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Mississippi
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon | 25,542 | $92,783 | $284,754 | $1,382 |
| 2 | Hernando | 17,949 | $76,950 | $344,671 | $1,302 |
| 3 | Corinth | 14,323 | $44,226 | $181,417 | $601 |
| 4 | Picayune | 11,900 | $41,213 | $193,808 | $931 |
| 5 | Vicksburg | 20,589 | $45,781 | $145,564 | $820 |
| 6 | Madison | 27,946 | $119,338 | $410,431 | $1,853 |
| 7 | Byram | 12,799 | $70,445 | $222,108 | $1,343 |
| 8 | Long Beach | 17,009 | $70,332 | $232,929 | $1,215 |
| 9 | Clinton | 27,195 | $74,745 | $237,467 | $1,118 |
| 10 | Bay St. Louis | 10,188 | $67,442 | $236,957 | $1,179 |