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Best places to raise a family in Mississippi
Choosing a place to raise children can be a daunting task for any family. If it takes a village to raise a child, that may just extend all the way to your next-door neighbor, fifth-grade teacher, or volunteer soccer coach. While all parents are looking for a great place to raise their kids, oftentimes this decision means balancing—and prioritizing—certain community resources and costs.
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to raise a family in Mississippi using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Keep reading to see if where you grew up or currently live made the list.
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#10. Gulf Park Estates
- Population: 7,053
- Median home value: $147,700 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,332 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $75,378
- Top public schools: Ocean Springs Middle School (A), Ocean Springs High School (A), Ocean Springs Upper Elementary School (A)
- Pictured: 2709 N 5th St, Ocean Springs ($299,000, 4 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $147,700 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,332 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $75,378
- Top public schools: Ocean Springs Middle School (A), Ocean Springs High School (A), Ocean Springs Upper Elementary School (A)
- Pictured: 2709 N 5th St, Ocean Springs ($299,000, 4 bedrooms)
#9. Tupelo
- Population: 38,271
- Median home value: $145,400 (59% own)
- Median rent: $790 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $50,694
- Top public schools: Milam Elementary School (A), Pierce Street Elementary School (A), Rankin Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Tupelo Christian Preparatory School (A), Tupelo Christian Academy (C+), Calvary Baptist Kindergarten & Preschool (unavailable)
- Pictured: 1935 N Parc Cir, Tupelo ($999,900, 5 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $145,400 (59% own)
- Median rent: $790 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $50,694
- Top public schools: Milam Elementary School (A), Pierce Street Elementary School (A), Rankin Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Tupelo Christian Preparatory School (A), Tupelo Christian Academy (C+), Calvary Baptist Kindergarten & Preschool (unavailable)
- Pictured: 1935 N Parc Cir, Tupelo ($999,900, 5 bedrooms)
#8. Ridgeland
- Population: 24,269
- Median home value: $186,500 (50% own)
- Median rent: $1,043 (50% rent)
- Median household income: $60,823
- Top public schools: Madison Middle School (A+), Madison Station Elementary School (A), Madison Avenue Upper Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: St. Andrew's Episcopal School (A+)
- Pictured: 108 Little Creek Rd, Ridgeland ($1.9 million, 5 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $186,500 (50% own)
- Median rent: $1,043 (50% rent)
- Median household income: $60,823
- Top public schools: Madison Middle School (A+), Madison Station Elementary School (A), Madison Avenue Upper Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: St. Andrew's Episcopal School (A+)
- Pictured: 108 Little Creek Rd, Ridgeland ($1.9 million, 5 bedrooms)
#7. Ocean Springs
- Population: 17,729
- Median home value: $174,000 (71% own)
- Median rent: $954 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $58,713
- Top public schools: Ocean Springs Middle School (A), Oak Park Elementary School (A), Ocean Springs High School (A)
- Top private schools: St. Alphonsus School (unavailable), Grace Baptist Academy (unavailable), First Baptist Early Education Center (unavailable)
- Pictured: 115 Spanish Point Rd, Ocean Springs ($1.7 million, 5 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $174,000 (71% own)
- Median rent: $954 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $58,713
- Top public schools: Ocean Springs Middle School (A), Oak Park Elementary School (A), Ocean Springs High School (A)
- Top private schools: St. Alphonsus School (unavailable), Grace Baptist Academy (unavailable), First Baptist Early Education Center (unavailable)
- Pictured: 115 Spanish Point Rd, Ocean Springs ($1.7 million, 5 bedrooms)
#6. Brandon
- Population: 23,930
- Median home value: $181,900 (80% own)
- Median rent: $982 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $78,573
- Top public schools: Brandon Middle School (A), Brandon Elementary School (A), StoneBridge Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Brandon First United Methodist Church Kindergarten (unavailable)
- Pictured: 116 Port Ln, Brandon ($895,000, 4 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $181,900 (80% own)
- Median rent: $982 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $78,573
- Top public schools: Brandon Middle School (A), Brandon Elementary School (A), StoneBridge Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Brandon First United Methodist Church Kindergarten (unavailable)
- Pictured: 116 Port Ln, Brandon ($895,000, 4 bedrooms)
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#5. Flowood
- Population: 9,030
- Median home value: $187,500 (56% own)
- Median rent: $1,147 (44% rent)
- Median household income: $65,191
- Top public schools: Highland Bluff Elementary School (A), Northwest Rankin Middle School (A), Northwest Rankin Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Jackson Preparatory School (A), Hartfield Academy (B), Good Shepherd Lutheran School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 304 Crimson Crown, Flowood ($719,000, 6 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $187,500 (56% own)
- Median rent: $1,147 (44% rent)
- Median household income: $65,191
- Top public schools: Highland Bluff Elementary School (A), Northwest Rankin Middle School (A), Northwest Rankin Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Jackson Preparatory School (A), Hartfield Academy (B), Good Shepherd Lutheran School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 304 Crimson Crown, Flowood ($719,000, 6 bedrooms)
#4. West Hattiesburg
- Population: 6,352
- Median home value: $144,400 (49% own)
- Median rent: $843 (51% rent)
- Median household income: $40,433
- Top public schools: Oak Grove Lower Elementary (A), Oak Grove High School (A), Oak Grove Middle School (A)
- Pictured: 17 Stones Throw Dr, Hattiesburg ($315,000, 4 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $144,400 (49% own)
- Median rent: $843 (51% rent)
- Median household income: $40,433
- Top public schools: Oak Grove Lower Elementary (A), Oak Grove High School (A), Oak Grove Middle School (A)
- Pictured: 17 Stones Throw Dr, Hattiesburg ($315,000, 4 bedrooms)
#3. Clinton
- Population: 25,131
- Median home value: $169,500 (67% own)
- Median rent: $981 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $62,685
- Top public schools: Lovett Elementary (A+), Eastside Elementary School (A), Northside Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Mt. Salus Christian School (A-)
- Pictured: 103 Berry Dr, Clinton ($350,000, 3 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $169,500 (67% own)
- Median rent: $981 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $62,685
- Top public schools: Lovett Elementary (A+), Eastside Elementary School (A), Northside Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Mt. Salus Christian School (A-)
- Pictured: 103 Berry Dr, Clinton ($350,000, 3 bedrooms)
#2. Petal
- Population: 10,584
- Median home value: $141,600 (66% own)
- Median rent: $884 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $55,946
- Top public schools: Petal Middle School (A+), Petal Elementary School (A+), Petal Upper Elementary School (A)
- Pictured: 513 Longleaf Dr, Petal ($439,500, 5 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $141,600 (66% own)
- Median rent: $884 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $55,946
- Top public schools: Petal Middle School (A+), Petal Elementary School (A+), Petal Upper Elementary School (A)
- Pictured: 513 Longleaf Dr, Petal ($439,500, 5 bedrooms)
#1. Madison
- Population: 25,592
- Median home value: $261,900 (93% own)
- Median rent: $1,549 (7% rent)
- Median household income: $114,521
- Top public schools: Madison Middle School (A+), Madison Station Elementary School (A), Germantown Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: St. Joseph Catholic School (A), Madison-Ridgeland Academy (A-), St. Anthony Catholic School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 242A Highland Hills Ln, Madison ($2.5 million, 5 bedrooms)
- Median home value: $261,900 (93% own)
- Median rent: $1,549 (7% rent)
- Median household income: $114,521
- Top public schools: Madison Middle School (A+), Madison Station Elementary School (A), Germantown Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: St. Joseph Catholic School (A), Madison-Ridgeland Academy (A-), St. Anthony Catholic School (unavailable)
- Pictured: 242A Highland Hills Ln, Madison ($2.5 million, 5 bedrooms)
