Southaven is a mid-sized city of 54,908 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $72,513
and a 4.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Southaven 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:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Southaven is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Southaven 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: 92.4
Southaven's overall cost of living index is 92.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Southaven costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Southaven, MS
National Avg
Median Home Value
$197,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,228
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$72,513
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Southaven's violent crime rate is 304.2 per 100,000 residents
— 20% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
304.2 /100k
Property Crime
2024.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Southaven is served primarily by DeSoto County School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Southaven, MS
National Avg
School District
DeSoto County School District
—
Elementary Schools
23
—
Middle Schools
8
—
High Schools
10
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Southaven sees average highs of 50.9°F in January
and 91.9°F in July,
with 59.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.4 inches of snow per year.
Southaven's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Southaven roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $197,200 and median rent is $1,228/month.
Southaven's violent crime rate is 304.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2024.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Southaven are operated by DeSoto County School District.
The district has 23 elementary, 8 middle, and 10 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. 25.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Southaven, MS has a population of 54,908, a median household income of $72,513, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%.
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.
Southaven averages 50.9°F in January and 91.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.4 inches
with about 1.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Southaven, MS is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 38671, 38672.
The population of Southaven, Mississippi is 54,908 with a median age of 35.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Southaven: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $197,200, median household income $72,513, crime index 87 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Southaven side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
