Best counties to raise a family in Mississippi
Best counties to raise a family in Mississippi
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Mississippi using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Attala County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 17,685
- Median household income: $48,098
- Median home value: $107,600
- Top places to live: Kosciusko (B-), Sallis (B), Ethel (B)
#24. Clarke County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (A), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 15,424
- Median household income: $46,054
- Median home value: $114,300
- Top places to live: Enterprise (A-), Quitman (B+), Stonewall (B)
#23. Oktibbeha County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 51,473
- Median household income: $43,482
- Median home value: $219,500
- Top places to live: Starkville (B+), Maben (B-), Sturgis (C+)
#22. Webster County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B+), cost of living (A+), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 9,942
- Median household income: $59,964
- Median home value: $109,500
- Top places to live: Mathiston (B+), Mantee (B), Eupora (B)
#21. Stone County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 18,515
- Median household income: $59,307
- Median home value: $163,300
- Top places to live: Wiggins (B)
#20. Pontotoc County
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 31,312
- Median household income: $52,741
- Median home value: $141,700
- Top places to live: Pontotoc (B+), Thaxton (A-), Ecru (B+)
#19. Newton County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 21,151
- Median household income: $50,426
- Median home value: $102,700
- Top places to live: Newton (C+), Decatur (B+), Union (B+)
#18. Hinds County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 222,494
- Median household income: $49,966
- Median home value: $151,200
- Top places to live: Clinton (A), Raymond (A), Byram (B+)
#17. Franklin County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (A), weather (A), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 7,655
- Median household income: $45,618
- Median home value: $95,100
- Top places to live: Roxie (B+), Meadville (B), Bude (B-)
#16. Jones County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 66,839
- Median household income: $51,143
- Median home value: $126,800
- Top places to live: Ellisville (B), Laurel (C+), Soso (B+)
#15. Choctaw County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A), cost of living (A), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 8,172
- Median household income: $48,321
- Median home value: $104,500
- Top places to live: French Camp (A), Ackerman (B), Weir (B)
#14. Grenada County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A+), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 21,342
- Median household income: $47,998
- Median home value: $123,400
- Top places to live: Grenada (B+), Holcomb (B), Elliott (C+)
#13. Union County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 28,009
- Median household income: $56,807
- Median home value: $159,100
- Top places to live: New Albany (A-), Blue Springs (A-), Myrtle (B+)
#12. Lauderdale County
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 71,984
- Median household income: $50,033
- Median home value: $124,500
- Top places to live: Marion (B), Meridian (C+), Nellieburg (C)
#11. Lowndes County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A+), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 58,187
- Median household income: $54,460
- Median home value: $157,400
- Top places to live: New Hope (A-), Columbus (B-), Caledonia (A-)
#10. Jackson County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 144,437
- Median household income: $64,756
- Median home value: $181,700
- Top places to live: Ocean Springs (A+), Gulf Hills (A), Gautier (B+)
#9. Lamar County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 65,081
- Median household income: $69,106
- Median home value: $218,700
- Top places to live: Arnold Line (A-), West Hattiesburg (B+), Sumrall (B+)
#8. Lee County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 83,138
- Median household income: $67,144
- Median home value: $187,800
- Top places to live: Tupelo (A), Saltillo (B+), Shannon (B-)
#7. Harrison County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 209,443
- Median household income: $57,233
- Median home value: $199,300
- Top places to live: Pass Christian (A), Long Beach (A), Biloxi (A-)
#6. DeSoto County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 188,598
- Median household income: $82,980
- Median home value: $248,700
- Top places to live: Olive Branch (A), Southaven (A-), Hernando (A-)
#5. Neshoba County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A+), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 28,927
- Median household income: $53,087
- Median home value: $96,600
- Top places to live: Pearl River (B+), Philadelphia (B+), Tucker (B-)
#4. Rankin County
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 158,218
- Median household income: $77,454
- Median home value: $223,400
- Top places to live: Flowood (A+), Brandon (A), Richland (A)
#3. Forrest County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 78,027
- Median household income: $52,821
- Median home value: $152,900
- Top places to live: Petal (A), Hattiesburg (A-), Glendale (B+)
#2. Lafayette County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 56,920
- Median household income: $64,334
- Median home value: $260,500
- Top places to live: Oxford (A), Taylor (A-), Abbeville (B+)
#1. Madison County
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 110,303
- Median household income: $78,794
- Median home value: $286,300
- Top places to live: Madison (A+), Ridgeland (A), Canton (C+)
