What are the schools like in Purvis, MS?

Purvis is served primarily by Lamar County School District. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.3:1.

What is the median household income in Purvis?

The median household income in Purvis, MS is $38,287 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.2%.

What is the weather like in Purvis, MS?

Purvis has an average high temperature of 59.7°F in January and 91.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 61.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Purvis, MS affordable or expensive?

Purvis's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Purvis is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $110,000 and the median rent is $856 per month.

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

Purvis has a violent crime rate of 51.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 970.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Purvis, MS a Good Place to Live?

Purvis is a small town of 1,809 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $38,287 and a 5.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Purvis 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 an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Purvis is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Purvis 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

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

Metric	Purvis, MS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$110,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$856	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$38,287	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Purvis's violent crime rate is 51.1 per 100,000 residents — 87% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

51.1 /100k

Property Crime

970.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Purvis is served primarily by Lamar County School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Purvis, MS	National Avg
School District	Lamar County School District	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Purvis sees average highs of 59.7°F in January and 91.2°F in July, with 61.7 inches of annual precipitation and 0.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Purvis, MS
Average High — January	59.7°F
Average High — July	91.2°F
Annual Precipitation	61.7"
Annual Snowfall	0.3"

Demographics

Metric	Purvis, MS	National Avg
Population	1,809	—
Median Age	35.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	76.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	20.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	30.2%	22.2%
65 and over	18.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Oak Grove, MS 10 mi Lumberton, MS 10 mi Baxterville, MS 11 mi West Hattiesburg, MS 11 mi Hattiesburg, MS 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Purvis

Purvis, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

39475

Purvis vs Other Cities

Purvis, MS vs Oak Grove, MS Purvis, MS vs Lumberton, MS Purvis, MS vs Baxterville, MS Purvis, MS vs West Hattiesburg, MS Purvis, MS vs Hattiesburg, MS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Purvis, MS affordable or expensive?

Purvis's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Purvis roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $110,000 and median rent is $856/month.

What is the crime rate in Purvis, MS?

Purvis's violent crime rate is 51.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 970.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Purvis?

Public schools in Purvis are operated by Lamar County School District. The district has 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 21.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Purvis, MS a good place to live?

Purvis, MS has a population of 1,809, a median household income of $38,287, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%. 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.

What is the weather like in Purvis?

Purvis averages 59.7°F in January and 91.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 61.7 inches with about 0.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Purvis?

Purvis, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 39475.

What is the population of Purvis?

The population of Purvis, Mississippi is 1,809 with a median age of 35.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Purvis?

Key numbers for living in Purvis: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $110,000, median household income $38,287, crime index 27 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Purvis side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.