McLain is a small town of 367 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $30,938
and a 1.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
McLain stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether McLain is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All McLain 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: 85.3
McLain's overall cost of living index is 85.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in McLain costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
McLain, MS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$59,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$694
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
94.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$30,938
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
McLain's violent crime rate is 95.7 per 100,000 residents
— 75% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
95.7 /100k
Property Crime
257.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
McLain is served primarily by Greene County Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
McLain, MS
National Avg
School District
Greene County Schools
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
9.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
McLain sees average highs of 61.5°F in January
and 93.5°F in July,
with 63.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.5 inches of snow per year.
McLain's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes McLain roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $59,500 and median rent is $694/month.
McLain's violent crime rate is 95.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 257.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in McLain are operated by Greene County Schools.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 9.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
McLain, MS has a population of 367, a median household income of $30,938, and an unemployment rate of 1.2%.
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.
McLain averages 61.5°F in January and 93.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 63.9 inches
with about 0.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
McLain, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 39456.
The population of McLain, Mississippi is 367 with a median age of 27.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in McLain: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $59,500, median household income $30,938, crime index 20 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare McLain side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.