Best counties to retire to in Mississippi

Written by:
July 31, 2022
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Best counties to retire to in Mississippi

Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.

When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.

To find the best counties to retire to in Mississippi based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.

Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Mississippi.

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#25. Itawamba County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 23,942
- Median household income: $59,508
- Median home value: $122,400
- Top places to live: Fulton (B), Mantachie (B), Tremont (B-)

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#24. Monroe County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 33,928
- Median household income: $51,231
- Median home value: $115,200
- Top places to live: Amory (B+), Aberdeen (B-), Hatley (B)

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#23. Walthall County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (A-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 13,864
- Median household income: $45,444
- Median home value: $120,600
- Top places to live: Tylertown (C+)

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#22. Copiah County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (A), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 27,994
- Median household income: $47,994
- Median home value: $105,600
- Top places to live: Hazlehurst (B), Crystal Springs (B), Wesson (B-)

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#21. Newton County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), 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+)

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#20. Jones County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), 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+)

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#19. Lauderdale County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), 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)

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#18. Warren County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 43,623
- Median household income: $56,648
- Median home value: $144,400
- Top places to live: Beechwood (A-), Vicksburg (B-)

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#17. Stone County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), 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)

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#16. Calhoun County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (A+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 13,029
- Median household income: $43,942
- Median home value: $82,900
- Top places to live: Vardaman (B), Calhoun City (B), Bruce (B)

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#15. Lamar County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), 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+)

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#14. Winston County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 17,609
- Median household income: $49,071
- Median home value: $121,200
- Top places to live: Louisville (B-), Noxapater (B)

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#13. Lowndes County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), 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-)

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#12. Neshoba County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), 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-)

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#11. Madison County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (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+)

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#10. Rankin County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (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)

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#9. Webster County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), 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)

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#8. Alcorn County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 34,500
- Median household income: $49,404
- Median home value: $132,300
- Top places to live: Corinth (B), Farmington (B), Kossuth (B+)

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#7. Lee County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (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-)

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#6. Attala County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), 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)

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#5. Tishomingo County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 18,738
- Median household income: $46,257
- Median home value: $132,500
- Top places to live: Golden (B+), Iuka (B+), Tishomingo (B)

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#4. Hancock County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 46,057
- Median household income: $67,728
- Median home value: $206,600
- Top places to live: Bay St. Louis (A-), Diamondhead (B+), Waveland (B+)

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#3. Harrison County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (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-)

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#2. Jackson County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (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+)

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#1. Montgomery County

- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 9,708
- Median household income: $45,057
- Median home value: $110,700
- Top places to live: Winona (C+), Kilmichael (B), Duck Hill (C+)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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