Carthage is a small town of 4,861 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $47,722
and a 8.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Carthage stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Carthage is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Carthage 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: 90.9
Carthage's overall cost of living index is 90.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Carthage costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Carthage, MS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$142,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$823
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
68.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,722
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Carthage's violent crime rate is 144.8 per 100,000 residents
— 62% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
144.8 /100k
Property Crime
579.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Carthage is served primarily by Leake County School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Carthage, MS
National Avg
School District
Leake County School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
82.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Carthage sees average highs of 56.8°F in January
and 92.1°F in July,
with 57.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Carthage's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Carthage roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $142,000 and median rent is $823/month.
Carthage's violent crime rate is 144.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 579.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Carthage are operated by Leake County School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 18.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Carthage, MS has a population of 4,861, a median household income of $47,722, and an unemployment rate of 8.7%.
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.
Carthage averages 56.8°F in January and 92.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.8 inches
with about 0.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Carthage, Mississippi is 4,861 with a median age of 36.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Carthage: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $142,000, median household income $47,722, crime index 34 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carthage side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
