Is Collins, MS a Good Place to Live?
Collins is a small town of 2,270 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $31,435 and a 13.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.
Strengths: Collins stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Collins is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Collins 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: 89.3Collins's overall cost of living index is 89.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Collins costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Collins, MS | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $76,000 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $727 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.9% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $31,435 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageCollins's violent crime rate is 537.6 per 100,000 residents — 41% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Collins is served primarily by Covington County School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Collins, MS | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Covington County School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 3 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 3 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 11.5:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.0% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 81.7% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Collins sees average highs of 61.8°F in January and 94.1°F in July, with 58.1 inches of annual precipitation and 0.2 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Collins, MS |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 61.8°F |
| Average High — July | 94.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" |
Demographics
| Metric | Collins, MS | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,270 | — |
| Median Age | 53.6 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 13.0% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 26.2 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 40.9% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 47.4% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0.9% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 26.2% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Collins
Collins, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code: