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Cost & Benefits

Most affordable towns in Mississippi, 2026

Booneville is the most affordable ranked town in Mississippi. Rent, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity are 22.5% each. Gasoline is 10%. A lower score is more affordable.

Summary

66
Towns ranked in Mississippi.
Booneville
Number 1 in Mississippi. Rent is 15.2% of income. National rank 5.
22.0%
Median rent share among ranked towns in Mississippi.
8
Ranked Mississippi towns in the national top 100.
Horn Lake
Least affordable ranked town in Mississippi. Rent is 32.3% of income. National rank 1745.

Gasoline

$3.954

per gallon. EIA does not publish a Mississippi price. This is the Gulf Coast (PADD 3) price for the week of October 12, 2026. At 12,000 miles a year and 25 mpg, that is $1,897.92 a year for every ranked town in Mississippi.

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Cost & Benefits. "2026 Most Affordable Towns Index: Mississippi." October 16, 2026. https://costandbenefits.com/reports/most-affordable-towns-2026/mississippi

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Benefits and taxes in Mississippi

Top 25

  1. #1 in Mississippi · National #5

    Booneville

    Rent share 15.2% · Price level 87.0 · Score 0.123

    Median rent is $645 a month and median income is $50,879, so rent is 15.2% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Mississippi state price level is 87.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  2. #2 in Mississippi · National #9

    Ripley

    Rent share 15.9% · Price level 87.0 · Score 0.129

    Median rent is $735 a month and median income is $55,444, so rent is 15.9% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Mississippi state price level is 87.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  3. #3 in Mississippi · National #15

    Corinth

    Rent share 16.3% · Price level 87.0 · Score 0.146

    Median rent is $601 a month and median income is $44,226, so rent is 16.3% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Mississippi state price level is 87.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  4. #4 in Mississippi · National #22

    Petal

    Rent share 16.8% · Price level 87.6 · Score 0.154

    Median rent is $1,047 a month and median income is $74,750, so rent is 16.8% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Hattiesburg, MS metro price level is 87.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  5. #5 in Mississippi · National #33

    Waveland

    Rent share 16.2% · Price level 90.0 · Score 0.162

    Median rent is $927 a month and median income is $68,693, so rent is 16.2% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro price level is 90.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  6. #6 in Mississippi · National #53

    Tupelo

    Rent share 17.7% · Price level 87.0 · Score 0.171

    Median rent is $976 a month and median income is $66,257, so rent is 17.7% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Mississippi state price level is 87.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  7. #7 in Mississippi · National #66

    Philadelphia

    Rent share 18.7% · Price level 87.0 · Score 0.174

    Median rent is $791 a month and median income is $50,788, so rent is 18.7% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Mississippi state price level is 87.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #8 in Mississippi · National #99

    Amory

    Rent share 18.9% · Price level 87.0 · Score 0.187

    Median rent is $834 a month and median income is $52,901, so rent is 18.9% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Mississippi state price level is 87.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  9. #9 in Mississippi · National #103

    Clinton

    Rent share 17.9% · Price level 89.0 · Score 0.188

    Median rent is $1,118 a month and median income is $74,745, so rent is 17.9% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Jackson, MS metro price level is 89.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  10. #10 in Mississippi · National #109

    Pass Christian

    Rent share 18.4% · Price level 87.0 · Score 0.190

    Median rent is $1,198 a month and median income is $78,212, so rent is 18.4% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Mississippi state price level is 87.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  11. #11 in Mississippi · National #112

    Brandon

    Rent share 17.9% · Price level 89.0 · Score 0.191

    Median rent is $1,382 a month and median income is $92,783, so rent is 17.9% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Jackson, MS metro price level is 89.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  12. #12 in Mississippi · National #164

    Louisville

    Rent share 20.0% · Price level 87.0 · Score 0.206

    Median rent is $617 a month and median income is $36,985, so rent is 20.0% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Mississippi state price level is 87.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  13. #13 in Mississippi · National #178

    Madison

    Rent share 18.6% · Price level 89.0 · Score 0.208

    Median rent is $1,853 a month and median income is $119,338, so rent is 18.6% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Jackson, MS metro price level is 89.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is tax burden.

  14. #14 in Mississippi · National #185

    Indianola

    Rent share 20.7% · Price level 87.0 · Score 0.209

    Median rent is $720 a month and median income is $41,708, so rent is 20.7% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Mississippi state price level is 87.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  15. #15 in Mississippi · National #187

    Latimer

    Rent share 19.2% · Price level 90.0 · Score 0.210

    Median rent is $1,122 a month and median income is $70,237, so rent is 19.2% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro price level is 90.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  16. #16 in Mississippi · National #227

    Grenada

    Rent share 20.8% · Price level 87.0 · Score 0.217

    Median rent is $802 a month and median income is $46,303, so rent is 20.8% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Mississippi state price level is 87.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  17. #17 in Mississippi · National #241

    Pontotoc

    Rent share 20.9% · Price level 87.0 · Score 0.221

    Median rent is $803 a month and median income is $46,167, so rent is 20.9% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Mississippi state price level is 87.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  18. #18 in Mississippi · National #257

    Gautier

    Rent share 20.2% · Price level 90.0 · Score 0.225

    Median rent is $1,040 a month and median income is $61,926, so rent is 20.2% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro price level is 90.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  19. #19 in Mississippi · National #263

    Vicksburg

    Rent share 21.5% · Price level 87.0 · Score 0.226

    Median rent is $820 a month and median income is $45,781, so rent is 21.5% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Mississippi state price level is 87.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  20. #20 in Mississippi · National #276

    Pascagoula

    Rent share 20.5% · Price level 90.0 · Score 0.228

    Median rent is $894 a month and median income is $52,222, so rent is 20.5% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro price level is 90.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  21. #21 in Mississippi · National #300

    Batesville

    Rent share 20.8% · Price level 87.0 · Score 0.233

    Median rent is $895 a month and median income is $51,727, so rent is 20.8% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Mississippi state price level is 87.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  22. #22 in Mississippi · National #316

    Holly Springs

    Rent share 20.4% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.235

    Median rent is $773 a month and median income is $45,462, so rent is 20.4% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  23. #23 in Mississippi · National #341

    Richland

    Rent share 21.4% · Price level 89.0 · Score 0.239

    Median rent is $1,185 a month and median income is $66,558, so rent is 21.4% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Jackson, MS metro price level is 89.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  24. #24 in Mississippi · National #365

    Ocean Springs

    Rent share 20.4% · Price level 90.0 · Score 0.241

    Median rent is $1,358 a month and median income is $79,712, so rent is 20.4% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro price level is 90.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  25. #25 in Mississippi · National #369

    Long Beach

    Rent share 20.7% · Price level 90.0 · Score 0.241

    Median rent is $1,215 a month and median income is $70,332, so rent is 20.7% of income, under the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro price level is 90.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

Least affordable 10

  1. #66 in Mississippi · National #1745

    Horn Lake

    Rent share 32.3% · Price level 92.2 · Score 0.353

    Median rent is $1,435 a month and median income is $53,311, so rent is 32.3% of income, over the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro price level is 92.2 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  2. #65 in Mississippi · National #1504

    West Hattiesburg

    Rent share 29.8% · Price level 87.6 · Score 0.337

    Median rent is $978 a month and median income is $39,366, so rent is 29.8% of income, over the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Hattiesburg, MS metro price level is 87.6 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  3. #64 in Mississippi · National #1458

    Starkville

    Rent share 26.1% · Price level 87.0 · Score 0.334

    Median rent is $916 a month and median income is $42,125, so rent is 26.1% of income, over the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Mississippi state price level is 87.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  4. #63 in Mississippi · National #1373

    Yazoo City

    Rent share 32.7% · Price level 89.0 · Score 0.328

    Median rent is $767 a month and median income is $28,157, so rent is 32.7% of income, over the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Jackson, MS metro price level is 89.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  5. #62 in Mississippi · National #1245

    Canton

    Rent share 31.0% · Price level 89.0 · Score 0.320

    Median rent is $989 a month and median income is $38,337, so rent is 31.0% of income, over the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Jackson, MS metro price level is 89.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  6. #61 in Mississippi · National #1217

    Moss Point

    Rent share 29.1% · Price level 90.0 · Score 0.318

    Median rent is $1,075 a month and median income is $44,296, so rent is 29.1% of income, over the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro price level is 90.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  7. #60 in Mississippi · National #1215

    St. Martin

    Rent share 26.9% · Price level 90.0 · Score 0.317

    Median rent is $1,231 a month and median income is $55,000, so rent is 26.9% of income, over the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro price level is 90.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  8. #59 in Mississippi · National #1202

    Jackson

    Rent share 30.1% · Price level 89.0 · Score 0.317

    Median rent is $1,055 a month and median income is $42,071, so rent is 30.1% of income, over the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Jackson, MS metro price level is 89.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  9. #58 in Mississippi · National #1139

    Gulfport

    Rent share 26.1% · Price level 90.0 · Score 0.313

    Median rent is $1,086 a month and median income is $49,919, so rent is 26.1% of income, over the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro price level is 90.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is gasoline price and its heaviest mark is rent share.

  10. #57 in Mississippi · National #1031

    Meridian

    Rent share 29.9% · Price level 87.0 · Score 0.305

    Median rent is $910 a month and median income is $36,562, so rent is 29.9% of income, over the 22.0% median for ranked towns in Mississippi. The Mississippi state price level is 87.0 (U.S. = 100). Residential electricity is 14.54 cents per kWh. Gasoline is $3.954 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3)). Among ranked U.S. towns, its lightest mark is regional price level and its heaviest mark is rent share.

The formula

A lower score is more affordable. Rent share, the regional price level, taxes, and electricity each count 22.5%. Gasoline counts 10%. Those weights are our choice. Gasoline stays at 10% because the miles figure is one national standard, not a measured town commute. This is not a government standard.

A percentile is the share of ranked towns with a strictly lower number, divided by the number of ranked towns minus one. The lowest number scores 0. Tied numbers share a percentile.

  1. Rent share = (median monthly rent × 12) / median household income. Both figures are the Census 2020–2024 medians for that place.
  2. RPP-adjusted cost is the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. A basket priced at 100 for the U.S. average costs this many dollars in the town's area. We use the metro index when the county is in a metro BEA publishes. Otherwise we use the state index and say so. This index includes housing, so housing also shows up in the rent share.
  3. Tax burden is the average of three percentiles. Income-tax share is state income tax plus the stored 2023 local AGI add-on, divided by the town's median household income, on a joint return. Property share is the state's median effective property-tax rate times the town's median home value, divided by income. Sales rate is the combined state and average local sales-tax rate. We do not turn the sales rate into dollars, because that would require a shopping basket we do not have.
  4. Electricity is the state residential price in cents per kilowatt-hour. Every town in a state shares it. We do not guess how many kilowatt-hours a home uses.
  5. Gasoline is the EIA retail price for all grades and all formulations, in dollars per gallon. Where EIA publishes a state series, we use that state. Every other state uses the PADD region EIA assigns to it. Census does not publish commuting miles for these towns, so annual gas spend is 12,000 miles a year divided by 25 miles per gallon, times the price. That is 480 gallons, the same for every town. Those miles are our standard, not an ACS figure and not a government mileage rule. Because the gallons do not change, the gas percentile is the percentile of the price.

    Weekly prices are for the week of October 12, 2026, from the EIA workbook released October 14, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/xls/pswrgvwall.xls. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon use West Coast (PADD 5) Except California. That series is not in the weekly workbook, so those five use the monthly price dated September 15, 2026. File: https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_a_epm0_pte_dpgal_m.htm.

    • State series, week of October 12, 2026: California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington.
    • Central Atlantic (PADD 1B), week of October 12, 2026: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.
    • Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of October 12, 2026: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico.
    • Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C), week of October 12, 2026: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia.
    • Midwest (PADD 2), week of October 12, 2026: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
    • New England (PADD 1A), week of October 12, 2026: Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
    • Rocky Mountain (PADD 4), week of October 12, 2026: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.
    • West Coast (PADD 5) Except California, September 15, 2026: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon.

Score = 0.225 × rent percentile + 0.225 × price-level percentile + 0.225 × tax score + 0.225 × electricity percentile + 0.10 × gasoline percentile. Rank 1 is the lowest score. If scores tie, the lower rent share wins, then the lower price level, then the place slug in A-to-Z order.

Questions

What is the most affordable town in Mississippi in this index?

Booneville is number 1 of 66 ranked towns in Mississippi. Median rent is 15.2% of median income. Its national rank is 5.

How many towns in Mississippi were ranked?

66 towns in Mississippi have at least 5,000 people and published Census rent, income, and home value. Places missing one of those figures are left out.

Does this ranking approve benefits in Mississippi?

No. Cost & Benefits does not approve or deny benefits. The score is a cost comparison only.