Is West Hattiesburg, MS a Good Place to Live?
West Hattiesburg is a small town of 6,234 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $41,181 and a 14.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.
Strengths: West Hattiesburg stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether West Hattiesburg is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West Hattiesburg 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: 89.3West Hattiesburg's overall cost of living index is 89.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in West Hattiesburg costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
| Metric | West Hattiesburg, MS | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $199,400 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $975 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.8% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $41,181 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeWest Hattiesburg's violent crime rate is 96.3 per 100,000 residents — 75% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
| Metric | West Hattiesburg, MS | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | N/A | — |
| Elementary Schools | N/A | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | N/A | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 85.9% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
West Hattiesburg sees average highs of 59.7°F in January and 91.2°F in July, with 61.7 inches of annual precipitation and 0.9 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | West Hattiesburg, MS |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 59.7°F |
| Average High — July | 91.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" |
Demographics
| Metric | West Hattiesburg, MS | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,234 | — |
| Median Age | 31.3 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 14.3% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 32.0 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 39.0% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 52.2% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1.7% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 1.8% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 32.3% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 11.1% | 16.8% |