What are the schools like in Ridgeland, MS?

Ridgeland is served primarily by Madison County Schools. The district operates 11 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 6 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.0:1.

What is the median household income in Ridgeland?

The median household income in Ridgeland, MS is $66,171 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.

What is the weather like in Ridgeland, MS?

Ridgeland has an average high temperature of 57.4°F in January and 92.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 62.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Ridgeland, MS affordable or expensive?

Ridgeland's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ridgeland is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $240,700 and the median rent is $1,185 per month.

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

Ridgeland has a violent crime rate of 319.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1380.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ridgeland, MS a Good Place to Live?

Ridgeland is a small city of 24,618 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $66,171 and a 4.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Ridgeland stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All Ridgeland 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: 90.7

Ridgeland's overall cost of living index is 90.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ridgeland costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ridgeland, MS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$240,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,185	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$66,171	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Ridgeland's violent crime rate is 319.6 per 100,000 residents — 16% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

319.6 /100k

Property Crime

1380.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Ridgeland is served primarily by Madison County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ridgeland, MS	National Avg
School District	Madison County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	11	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	6	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	51.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ridgeland sees average highs of 57.4°F in January and 92.1°F in July, with 62.1 inches of annual precipitation and 1.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ridgeland, MS
Average High — January	57.4°F
Average High — July	92.1°F
Annual Precipitation	62.1"
Annual Snowfall	1.0"

Demographics

Metric	Ridgeland, MS	National Avg
Population	24,618	—
Median Age	35.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	49.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	41.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.5%	18.9%
Asian	3.1%	6.3%
Under 18	20.4%	22.2%
65 and over	13.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Madison, MS 4 mi Flowood, MS 8 mi Jackson, MS 8 mi Gluckstadt, MS 8 mi Pearl, MS 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Ridgeland

Ridgeland, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

39157

Ridgeland vs Other Cities

Ridgeland, MS vs Madison, MS Ridgeland, MS vs Flowood, MS Ridgeland, MS vs Jackson, MS Ridgeland, MS vs Gluckstadt, MS Ridgeland, MS vs Pearl, MS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ridgeland, MS affordable or expensive?

Ridgeland's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ridgeland roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $240,700 and median rent is $1,185/month.

What is the crime rate in Ridgeland, MS?

Ridgeland's violent crime rate is 319.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1380.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ridgeland?

Public schools in Ridgeland are operated by Madison County Schools. The district has 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 6 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 51.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ridgeland, MS a good place to live?

Ridgeland, MS has a population of 24,618, a median household income of $66,171, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. 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 Ridgeland?

Ridgeland averages 57.4°F in January and 92.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 62.1 inches with about 1.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ridgeland?

Ridgeland, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 39157.

What is the population of Ridgeland?

The population of Ridgeland, Mississippi is 24,618 with a median age of 35.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ridgeland?

Key numbers for living in Ridgeland: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $240,700, median household income $66,171, crime index 77 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ridgeland side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.