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Cost & Benefits

Benefits / Mississippi

School meals in Mississippi

Who is in the free or reduced-price school meal range? Free meals use 130 percent of $33,000 for a household of four, and reduced-price meals use 185 percent, for the 2026–27 school year.

The largest 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gap among ranked metros in Mississippi is $12: Memphis at $1,301 and Jackson at $1,289.

Mississippi taxes wages at a flat 4.00%. Combined state and local sales tax is 7.1%. The ACS effective property tax rate is 0.65%.

A household of four with $48,000 of income is about 145 percent of the $33,000 poverty guideline and is likely eligible for School meals. Likely eligible for reduced-price meals.

Limits behind the page

2026 poverty guideline in Mississippi
Household100%138%185%
1$15,960$22,025$29,526
2$21,640$29,863$40,034
3$27,320$37,702$50,542
4$33,000$45,540$61,050

An illustrative household

Two adults, ages 34 and 32, filing jointly, plus children ages 8 and 3. Gross income $48,000 a year, about 145 percent of the poverty guideline in Mississippi. They rent. Nobody is marked disabled or pregnant.

School meals

Likely eligible

Likely eligible for reduced-price meals

  • A school-age child is in the household. Income is 145 percent of the 2026 poverty guidelines. Free meals use 130 percent and reduced-price meals use 185 percent for the 2026–27 school year.
Read the school meal guidelines

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Food stamps (SNAP) tools in Mississippi

Other programs in Mississippi

Large metros in Mississippi

School meals in other states