You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Mississippi. Best sururbs in Mississippi. Best counties in Mississippi.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Magnolia State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Mississippi based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Mississippi ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Mississippi For 2026
- Beechwood
- Saltillo
- New Hope
- Columbus AFB
- Caledonia
- Bridgetown
- DeLisle
- Mooreville
- Lynchburg
- Hide-A-Way Lake
- Sumrall
- Florence
- Gu
- Arnold Line
- Hurley
What’s the best small town in Mississippi? Beechwood is the best small town in Mississippi based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Beechwood, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.
But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.
For more reading on the Magnolia State check out:
- Best Places To Live In Mississippi
- Cheapest Places To Live In Mississippi
- Most Dangerous Cities In Mississippi
The 15 Best Small Towns In Mississippi For 2026
1. Beechwood
/10
Population: 4,168
Median Income: $91,600 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $268,114 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.4%
2. Saltillo
/10
Population: 4,952
Median Income: $80,640 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $235,070 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.3%
3. New Hope
/10
Population: 3,952
Median Income: $79,577 (11th Best)
Median Home Value: $270,614 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%
4. Columbus Afb
/10
Population: 1,293
Median Income: $69,539 (19th Best)
Median Home Value: $0 (114th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
5. Caledonia
/10
Population: 1,414
Median Income: $82,806 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $258,352 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.0%
6. Bridgetown
/10
Population: 3,195
Median Income: $139,224 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $391,379 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.8%
7. Delisle
/10
Population: 1,906
Median Income: $71,917 (14th Best)
Median Home Value: $248,119 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
8. Mooreville
/10
Population: 2,154
Median Income: $118,333 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $217,554 (23rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 24.3%
9. Lynchburg
/10
Population: 2,161
Median Income: $88,750 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $253,663 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 10.2%
10. Hide-A-Way Lake
/10
Population: 2,569
Median Income: $69,621 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $221,876 (22nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.7%
11. Sumrall
/10
Population: 1,674
Median Income: $70,382 (16th Best)
Median Home Value: $266,987 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.9%
12. Florence
/10
Population: 4,696
Median Income: $86,308 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $248,605 (14th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.3%
13. Gu
/10
Population: 2,594
Median Income: $95,625 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $239,258 (19th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%
14. Arnold Line
/10
Population: 1,859
Median Income: $53,750 (32nd Best)
Median Home Value: $179,386 (34th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
15. Hurley
/10
Population: 1,305
Median Income: $133,216 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $321,169 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.7%
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Mississippi
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Mississippi possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 115 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 115, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Mississippi. Top of that list — Beechwood.
This is our eleventh time ranking the best small places to live in Mississippi.
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Mississippi are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in Mississippi are Beechwood, Saltillo, New Hope, Columbus AFB, Caledonia, Bridgetown, DeLisle, Mooreville, Lynchburg, and Hide-A-Way Lake.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Mississippi:
- Rosedale
- Okolona
- Lumberton
For more Mississippi reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Mississippi
- Safest Places In Mississippi
- Worst Places To Live In Mississippi
Best Small Towns In Mississippi
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beechwood, MS | 4,168 | $91,600 | 0.4% | |
| 2 | Saltillo, MS | 4,952 | $80,640 | 1.3% | |
| 3 | New Hope, MS | 3,952 | $79,577 | 1.2% | |
| 4 | Columbus Afb, MS | 1,293 | $69,539 | 1.9% | |
| 5 | Caledonia, MS | 1,414 | $82,806 | 1.0% | |
| 6 | Bridgetown, MS | 3,195 | $139,224 | 5.8% | |
| 7 | Delisle, MS | 1,906 | $71,917 | 3.9% | |
| 8 | Mooreville, MS | 2,154 | $118,333 | 24.3% | |
| 9 | Lynchburg, MS | 2,161 | $88,750 | 10.2% | |
| 10 | Hide-A-Way Lake, MS | 2,569 | $69,621 | 6.7% | |
| 11 | Sumrall, MS | 1,674 | $70,382 | 6.9% | |
| 12 | Florence, MS | 4,696 | $86,308 | 6.3% | |
| 13 | Gu, MS | 2,594 | $95,625 | 3.4% | |
| 14 | Arnold Line, MS | 1,859 | $53,750 | 0.0% | |
| 15 | Hurley, MS | 1,305 | $133,216 | 4.7% | |
| 16 | Lyman, MS | 2,298 | $75,455 | 2.0% | |
| 17 | Purvis, MS | 1,914 | $45,667 | 1.8% | |
| 18 | Farmington, MS | 2,312 | $57,151 | 0.0% | |
| 19 | Terry, MS | 1,620 | $47,734 | 3.9% | |
| 20 | Pelahatchie, MS | 1,423 | $56,322 | 4.0% | |
| 21 | Collinsville, MS | 1,725 | $78,750 | 4.7% | |
| 22 | Iuka, MS | 3,110 | $49,290 | 1.5% | |
| 23 | Morgantown, MS | 1,038 | $52,308 | 5.6% | |
| 24 | Raymond, MS | 1,663 | $40,060 | 4.0% | |
| 25 | Poplarville, MS | 2,847 | $53,603 | 10.4% | |
| 26 | Glendale, MS | 1,257 | $56,818 | 2.9% | |
| 27 | Walls, MS | 1,426 | $58,920 | 1.0% | |
| 28 | Marion, MS | 2,030 | $46,500 | 7.2% | |
| 29 | Fulton, MS | 4,576 | $52,727 | 7.9% | |
| 30 | Mantachie, MS | 1,950 | $65,568 | 4.1% | |
| 31 | Houston, MS | 3,741 | $44,023 | 4.5% | |
| 32 | Baldwyn, MS | 3,138 | $43,841 | 5.0% | |
| 33 | Crystal Springs, MS | 4,752 | $49,291 | 5.5% | |
| 34 | Belzoni, MS | 1,306 | $34,318 | 9.4% | |
| 35 | Nellieburg, MS | 1,197 | $60,577 | 3.7% | |
| 36 | Eupora, MS | 2,250 | $53,793 | 18.8% | |
| 37 | Belmont, MS | 2,028 | $46,512 | 1.7% | |
| 38 | Blue Mountain, MS | 1,232 | $49,667 | 4.0% | |
| 39 | Water Valley, MS | 3,376 | $42,684 | 3.1% | |
| 40 | Verona, MS | 2,748 | $46,148 | 3.6% | |
| 41 | Decatur, MS | 1,929 | $50,128 | 6.6% | |
| 42 | Marks, MS | 1,377 | $32,132 | 8.7% | |
| 43 | Woodville, MS | 1,037 | $52,894 | 17.6% | |
| 44 | Rawls Springs, MS | 1,499 | $47,022 | 2.9% | |
| 45 | Ecru, MS | 1,550 | $65,000 | 14.8% | |
| 46 | Taylorsville, MS | 1,650 | $37,885 | 1.6% | |
| 47 | Hazlehurst, MS | 3,520 | $43,552 | 4.4% | |
| 48 | Wiggins, MS | 4,293 | $49,870 | 12.0% | |
| 49 | Lexington, MS | 1,350 | $48,417 | 7.5% | |
| 50 | Leland, MS | 3,777 | $37,406 | 8.6% | |
| 51 | Bruce, MS | 1,483 | $26,923 | 3.2% | |
| 52 | Moorhead, MS | 1,439 | $34,625 | 20.1% | |
| 53 | Mound Bayou, MS | 1,449 | $23,732 | 4.4% | |
| 54 | Ackerman, MS | 1,792 | $48,083 | 23.6% | |
| 55 | Mendenhall, MS | 2,103 | $40,141 | 7.2% | |
| 56 | Ellisville, MS | 4,521 | $32,100 | 10.9% | |
| 57 | Coldwater, MS | 1,156 | $44,054 | 5.3% | |
| 58 | Kiln, MS | 2,016 | $71,875 | 5.8% | |
| 59 | Courtland, MS | 1,205 | $46,544 | 4.4% | |
| 60 | Magnolia, MS | 3,059 | $55,057 | 6.4% | |
| 61 | Richton, MS | 1,220 | $35,057 | 2.3% | |
| 62 | Morton, MS | 3,656 | $41,863 | 0.3% | |
| 63 | Flora, MS | 2,331 | $36,513 | 5.7% | |
| 64 | Charleston, MS | 1,979 | $36,892 | 12.7% | |
| 65 | Rolling Fork, MS | 2,038 | $45,587 | 6.9% | |
| 66 | Newton, MS | 3,116 | $32,157 | 6.6% | |
| 67 | Quitman, MS | 2,161 | $47,538 | 1.5% | |
| 68 | Centreville, MS | 2,263 | $42,000 | 0.3% | |
| 69 | Wesson, MS | 2,250 | $65,179 | 5.2% | |
| 70 | Leakesville, MS | 4,959 | $68,428 | 14.2% | |
| 71 | Winona, MS | 4,183 | $31,932 | 6.6% | |
| 72 | Aberdeen, MS | 4,890 | $33,285 | 5.7% | |
| 73 | Como, MS | 1,258 | $21,404 | 35.3% | |
| 74 | Tutwiler, MS | 2,073 | $34,073 | 19.3% | |
| 75 | Union, MS | 2,090 | $44,643 | 8.3% | |
| 76 | Bay Springs, MS | 1,855 | $50,306 | 9.8% | |
| 77 | Fayette, MS | 1,691 | $28,567 | 1.0% | |
| 78 | Magee, MS | 3,943 | $44,488 | 3.3% | |
| 79 | Nettleton, MS | 1,853 | $41,842 | 6.0% | |
| 80 | Calhoun City, MS | 1,745 | $40,078 | 6.2% | |
| 81 | Byhalia, MS | 1,588 | $38,500 | 6.9% | |
| 82 | Robinhood, MS | 1,298 | $69,875 | 5.1% | |
| 83 | Raleigh, MS | 1,118 | $61,667 | 16.6% | |
| 84 | Lucedale, MS | 2,995 | $40,668 | 7.4% | |
| 85 | Shannon, MS | 1,383 | $42,297 | 8.9% | |
| 86 | Escatawpa, MS | 3,494 | $40,109 | 12.0% | |
| 87 | Shaw, MS | 1,508 | $30,469 | 8.7% | |
| 88 | Summit, MS | 2,451 | $29,375 | 9.8% | |
| 89 | Durant, MS | 2,103 | $30,130 | 0.0% | |
| 90 | Tyle, MS | 2,024 | $33,333 | 11.6% | |
| 91 | Maben, MS | 1,231 | $29,158 | 7.8% | |
| 92 | Carthage, MS | 4,866 | $42,254 | 7.8% | |
| 93 | Monticello, MS | 1,351 | $34,250 | 9.8% | |
| 94 | Itta Bena, MS | 1,967 | $36,033 | 22.7% | |
| 95 | Port Gibson, MS | 1,261 | $42,656 | 15.6% | |
| 96 | Ruleville, MS | 2,632 | $33,480 | 19.9% | |
| 97 | Drew, MS | 2,132 | $23,973 | 13.7% | |
| 98 | Waynesboro, MS | 4,518 | $31,684 | 3.8% | |
| 99 | Pearl River, MS | 4,047 | $50,922 | 7.4% | |
| 100 | Tunica Resorts, MS | 2,281 | $45,661 | 12.0% |