What are the schools like in Petal, MS?

Petal is served primarily by Petal School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

What is the median household income in Petal?

The median household income in Petal, MS is $61,957 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.4%.

What is the weather like in Petal, MS?

Petal has an average high temperature of 60.0°F in January and 91.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 58.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Petal, MS affordable or expensive?

Petal's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Petal is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $147,800 and the median rent is $911 per month.

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

Petal has a violent crime rate of 130.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 391.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Petal, MS a Good Place to Live?

Petal is a small city of 11,047 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $61,957 and a 6.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Petal is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Petal 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: 89.3

Petal's overall cost of living index is 89.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Petal costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Petal, MS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$147,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$911	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$61,957	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Petal's violent crime rate is 130.4 per 100,000 residents — 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

130.4 /100k

Property Crime

391.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Petal is served primarily by Petal School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Petal, MS	National Avg
School District	Petal School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	30.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Petal sees average highs of 60.0°F in January and 91.6°F in July, with 58.9 inches of annual precipitation and 0.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Petal, MS
Average High — January	60.0°F
Average High — July	91.6°F
Annual Precipitation	58.9"
Annual Snowfall	0.9"

Demographics

Metric	Petal, MS	National Avg
Population	11,047	—
Median Age	36.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	81.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	14.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	24.3%	22.2%
65 and over	15.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Glendale, MS 5 mi Hattiesburg, MS 6 mi Eastabuchie, MS 6 mi Runnelstown, MS 7 mi Arnold Line, MS 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Petal

Petal, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

39465

Petal vs Other Cities

Petal, MS vs Glendale, MS Petal, MS vs Hattiesburg, MS Petal, MS vs Eastabuchie, MS Petal, MS vs Runnelstown, MS Petal, MS vs Arnold Line, MS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Petal, MS affordable or expensive?

Petal's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Petal roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $147,800 and median rent is $911/month.

What is the crime rate in Petal, MS?

Petal's violent crime rate is 130.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 391.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Petal?

Public schools in Petal are operated by Petal School District. The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 30.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Petal, MS a good place to live?

Petal, MS has a population of 11,047, a median household income of $61,957, and an unemployment rate of 6.4%. 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 Petal?

Petal averages 60.0°F in January and 91.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.9 inches with about 0.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Petal?

Petal, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 39465.

What is the population of Petal?

The population of Petal, Mississippi is 11,047 with a median age of 36.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Petal?

Key numbers for living in Petal: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $147,800, median household income $61,957, crime index 28 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Petal side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.