What are the schools like in Brookhaven, MS?

Brookhaven is served primarily by Brookhaven School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.0:1.

What is the median household income in Brookhaven?

The median household income in Brookhaven, MS is $32,869 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.6%.

What is the weather like in Brookhaven, MS?

Brookhaven has an average high temperature of 57.2°F in January and 89.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 61.6 inches.

Brookhaven, MS Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Brookhaven, MS affordable or expensive?

Brookhaven's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Brookhaven is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $110,800 and the median rent is $673 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Brookhaven, MS?

Brookhaven has a violent crime rate of 563.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3747.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Brookhaven, MS a Good Place to Live?

Brookhaven is a small city of 11,714 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $32,869 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Brookhaven stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Brookhaven is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Brookhaven city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 88.1

Brookhaven's overall cost of living index is 88.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Brookhaven costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Brookhaven, MS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$110,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$673	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$32,869	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Brookhaven's violent crime rate is 563.0 per 100,000 residents — 48% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

563.0 /100k

Property Crime

3747.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Brookhaven is served primarily by Brookhaven School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Brookhaven, MS	National Avg
School District	Brookhaven School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Brookhaven sees average highs of 57.2°F in January and 89.7°F in July, with 61.6 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Brookhaven, MS
Average High — January	57.2°F
Average High — July	89.7°F
Annual Precipitation	61.6"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Brookhaven, MS	National Avg
Population	11,714	—
Median Age	42.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	41.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	56.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.1%	18.9%
Asian	1.5%	6.3%
Under 18	22.1%	22.2%
65 and over	18.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wesson, MS 9 mi Beauregard, MS 10 mi Bogue Chitto CDP (Lincoln County), MS 11 mi Monticello, MS 19 mi Hazlehurst, MS 20 mi

ZIP Codes in Brookhaven

Brookhaven, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

39601

Brookhaven vs Other Cities

Brookhaven, MS vs Wesson, MS Brookhaven, MS vs Beauregard, MS Brookhaven, MS vs Bogue Chitto CDP (Lincoln County), MS Brookhaven, MS vs Monticello, MS Brookhaven, MS vs Hazlehurst, MS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brookhaven, MS affordable or expensive?

Brookhaven's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Brookhaven roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $110,800 and median rent is $673/month.

What is the crime rate in Brookhaven, MS?

Brookhaven's violent crime rate is 563.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3747.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Brookhaven?

Public schools in Brookhaven are operated by Brookhaven School District. The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 20.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Brookhaven, MS a good place to live?

Brookhaven, MS has a population of 11,714, a median household income of $32,869, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Brookhaven?

Brookhaven averages 57.2°F in January and 89.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 61.6 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Brookhaven?

Brookhaven, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 39601.

What is the population of Brookhaven?

The population of Brookhaven, Mississippi is 11,714 with a median age of 42.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Brookhaven?

Key numbers for living in Brookhaven: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $110,800, median household income $32,869, crime index 160 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Brookhaven side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.