What are the schools like in Picayune, MS?

Picayune is served primarily by Picayune School District. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.0:1.

What is the median household income in Picayune?

The median household income in Picayune, MS is $35,649 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.7%.

What is the weather like in Picayune, MS?

Picayune has an average high temperature of 61.9°F in January and 91.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 66.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Picayune, MS affordable or expensive?

Picayune's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Picayune is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $136,900 and the median rent is $873 per month.

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

Picayune has a violent crime rate of 185.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2698.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Picayune, MS a Good Place to Live?

Picayune is a small city of 11,804 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $35,649 and a 5.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

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

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

All Picayune 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: 91.2

Picayune's overall cost of living index is 91.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Picayune costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Picayune, MS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$136,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$873	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	56.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$35,649	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Picayune's violent crime rate is 185.5 per 100,000 residents — 51% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

185.5 /100k

Property Crime

2698.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Picayune is served primarily by Picayune School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Picayune, MS	National Avg
School District	Picayune School District	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Picayune sees average highs of 61.9°F in January and 91.5°F in July, with 66.7 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Picayune, MS
Average High — January	61.9°F
Average High — July	91.5°F
Annual Precipitation	66.7"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Picayune, MS	National Avg
Population	11,804	—
Median Age	38.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	56.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	37.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	26.1%	22.2%
65 and over	17.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Nicholson, MS 3 mi Hide-A-Way Lake, MS 4 mi Pearl River, LA 12 mi Kiln, MS 16 mi Sun, LA 17 mi

ZIP Codes in Picayune

Picayune, MS is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

39466 39426

Picayune vs Other Cities

Picayune, MS vs Nicholson, MS Picayune, MS vs Hide-A-Way Lake, MS Picayune, MS vs Pearl River, LA Picayune, MS vs Kiln, MS Picayune, MS vs Sun, LA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picayune, MS affordable or expensive?

Picayune's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Picayune roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $136,900 and median rent is $873/month.

What is the crime rate in Picayune, MS?

Picayune's violent crime rate is 185.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2698.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Picayune?

Public schools in Picayune are operated by Picayune School District. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 15.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Picayune, MS a good place to live?

Picayune, MS has a population of 11,804, a median household income of $35,649, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%. 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.

What is the weather like in Picayune?

Picayune averages 61.9°F in January and 91.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 66.7 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Picayune?

Picayune, MS is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 39466, 39426.

What is the population of Picayune?

The population of Picayune, Mississippi is 11,804 with a median age of 38.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Picayune?

Key numbers for living in Picayune: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $136,900, median household income $35,649, crime index 81 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Picayune side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.