What are the schools like in Houston, MS?

Houston is served primarily by Chickasaw County School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.2:1.

What is the median household income in Houston?

The median household income in Houston, MS is $32,410 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.3%.

What is the weather like in Houston, MS?

Houston has an average high temperature of 52.6°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 59.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Houston, MS affordable or expensive?

Houston's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Houston is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $88,800 and the median rent is $707 per month.

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

Houston has a violent crime rate of 40.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 58.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Houston, MS a Good Place to Live?

Houston is a small town of 3,762 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $32,410 and a 3.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Houston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Houston 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: 87.4

Houston's overall cost of living index is 87.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Houston costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Houston, MS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$88,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$707	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$32,410	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Houston's violent crime rate is 40.9 per 100,000 residents — 89% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

40.9 /100k

Property Crime

58.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Houston is served primarily by Chickasaw County School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Houston, MS	National Avg
School District	Chickasaw County School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	73.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Houston sees average highs of 52.6°F in January and 90.2°F in July, with 59.3 inches of annual precipitation and 0.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Houston, MS
Average High — January	52.6°F
Average High — July	90.2°F
Annual Precipitation	59.3"
Annual Snowfall	0.8"

Demographics

Metric	Houston, MS	National Avg
Population	3,762	—
Median Age	46.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	53.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	39.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	18.3%	22.2%
65 and over	27.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Woodland, MS 8 mi Van Vleet, MS 9 mi New Houlka, MS 10 mi Vardaman, MS 10 mi Mantee, MS 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Houston

Houston, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

38851

Houston vs Other Cities

Houston, MS vs Woodland, MS Houston, MS vs Van Vleet, MS Houston, MS vs New Houlka, MS Houston, MS vs Vardaman, MS Houston, MS vs Mantee, MS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Houston, MS affordable or expensive?

Houston's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Houston roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $88,800 and median rent is $707/month.

What is the crime rate in Houston, MS?

Houston's violent crime rate is 40.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 58.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Houston?

Public schools in Houston are operated by Chickasaw County School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 16.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Houston, MS a good place to live?

Houston, MS has a population of 3,762, a median household income of $32,410, and an unemployment rate of 3.3%. 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 Houston?

Houston averages 52.6°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.3 inches with about 0.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Houston?

Houston, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 38851.

What is the population of Houston?

The population of Houston, Mississippi is 3,762 with a median age of 46.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Houston?

Key numbers for living in Houston: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $88,800, median household income $32,410, crime index 8 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Houston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.