What are the schools like in Starkville, MS?

Starkville is served primarily by Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.6:1.

What is the median household income in Starkville?

The median household income in Starkville, MS is $36,076 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.9%.

What is the weather like in Starkville, MS?

Starkville has an average high temperature of 54.1°F in January and 91.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 58.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Starkville, MS affordable or expensive?

Starkville's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Starkville is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $244,000 and the median rent is $861 per month.

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

Starkville has a violent crime rate of 82.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2036.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Starkville, MS a Good Place to Live?

Starkville is a small city of 24,274 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $36,076 and a 7.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

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

All Starkville 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: 94.0

Starkville's overall cost of living index is 94.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Starkville costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Starkville, MS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$244,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$861	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	37.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$36,076	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Starkville's violent crime rate is 82.9 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

82.9 /100k

Property Crime

2036.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Starkville is served primarily by Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Starkville, MS	National Avg
School District	Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	47.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Starkville sees average highs of 54.1°F in January and 91.7°F in July, with 58.0 inches of annual precipitation and 0.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Starkville, MS
Average High — January	54.1°F
Average High — July	91.7°F
Annual Precipitation	58.0"
Annual Snowfall	0.5"

Demographics

Metric	Starkville, MS	National Avg
Population	24,274	—
Median Age	27.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	59.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	34.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	3.8%	6.3%
Under 18	18.1%	22.2%
65 and over	11.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Mississippi State, MS 2 mi Longview, MS 7 mi Pheba, MS 11 mi Artesia, MS 11 mi West Point, MS 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Starkville

Starkville, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

39759

Starkville vs Other Cities

Starkville, MS vs Mississippi State, MS Starkville, MS vs Longview, MS Starkville, MS vs Pheba, MS Starkville, MS vs Artesia, MS Starkville, MS vs West Point, MS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Starkville, MS affordable or expensive?

Starkville's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Starkville roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $244,000 and median rent is $861/month.

What is the crime rate in Starkville, MS?

Starkville's violent crime rate is 82.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2036.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Starkville?

Public schools in Starkville are operated by Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. The district has 3 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 47.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Starkville, MS a good place to live?

Starkville, MS has a population of 24,274, a median household income of $36,076, and an unemployment rate of 7.9%. 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 Starkville?

Starkville averages 54.1°F in January and 91.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.0 inches with about 0.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Starkville?

Starkville, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 39759.

What is the population of Starkville?

The population of Starkville, Mississippi is 24,274 with a median age of 27.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Starkville?

Key numbers for living in Starkville: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $244,000, median household income $36,076, crime index 52 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Starkville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.