Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Hattiesburg, MS

    Is Hattiesburg a good place to live?

    Watch Hattiesburg

    Hattiesburg ranks #10 of 16 Mississippi cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (38/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $153,600
    +4.8% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $995
    per month
    Household income
    $44,140
    median
    Unemployment
    7.3%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Hattiesburg

    The median home value in Hattiesburg is $153,600 and median rent is $995 a month, against a median household income of $44,140. Homes cost about 3.5× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Hattiesburg crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Mississippi the 2025 rate was 224 violent and 1,315 property crimes per 100,000 people — #37 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Hattiesburg, MS

    Hattiesburg has about 48,507 residents, 7.3% unemployment and 18% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Hattiesburg with

    Hattiesburg vs JacksonHattiesburg vs GulfportHattiesburg vs SouthavenHattiesburg vs BiloxiHattiesburg vs Olive BranchHattiesburg vs TupeloHattiesburg vs MeridianHattiesburg vs Greenville

    More: Where to move in Mississippi · Best counties in Mississippi

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report