2026 Scientific Ranking: Best Places to Live in Mississippi
Methodology Brief
This analysis ranks Mississippi’s top ten cities by synthesizing three critical socioeconomic metrics into a weighted Ocity Score. The algorithm prioritizes Safety (40% weight, derived from violent crime rate), Affordability (30% weight, calculated from median rent), and Economic Output (30% weight, based on median household income). The resulting score provides a quantifiable, objective hierarchy for relocation decisions, eliminating subjective bias in favor of statistical rigor.
Top 3 Winners Deep Dive
Rank #1: Madison
Madison secures the top position through a dominant economic profile that offsets its higher housing cost. The city’s median income of $120,918 is statistically significant, exceeding the next closest competitor by over 22%. This high-yield economic output is crucial for absorbing the city’s $997 median rent, which is the highest in the top ten. While its violent crime rate of 291/100k is uniform across the dataset, the city’s financial capacity—where income exceeds three times the annual rent—creates a safety-optimized lifestyle that the algorithm heavily favors. Madison represents the peak of financial resilience in the state.
Rank #2: Olive Branch
Olive Branch achieves the second-highest rank by offering a superior balance of affordability and income. With a median income of $98,421, it commands a strong economic position, yet its $785 median rent is 21% lower than Madison’s. This combination yields a highly favorable cost-to-income ratio, making it a statistically efficient choice for asset accumulation. Like Madison, it maintains a baseline violent crime rate of 291/100k, but its economic leverage—earning nearly $100k while paying substantially less for housing—provides a distinct advantage in the affordability-weighted portion of the algorithm.
Rank #3: Southaven
Southaven secures the bronze medal by maximizing value within a robust workforce. Its median income of $76,159 is the third-highest among the ten cities, while its $785 median rent matches Olive Branch’s affordability. This creates a strong net disposable income, a key metric for economic security. The city’s population of 55,531 indicates a mature urban infrastructure capable of supporting a diverse economy. Southaven’s data profile demonstrates that high economic output does not necessitate a premium housing cost, positioning it as a high-value, safety-optimized hub in the northern corridor.
The 'Hidden Gem'
For buyers seeking the optimal intersection of high income and low cost, Tupelo (Rank #4) presents the most compelling data-driven value. Tupelo achieves a median income of $66,314—significantly above the state median—while maintaining a $714 median rent, the lowest among the top four cities. This results in the most favorable cost-to-income ratio in the elite tier. A resident in Tupelo allocates approximately 13% of annual pre-tax income to rent, compared to nearly 10% in Madison and 9.5% in Olive Branch. This superior liquidity, combined with a stable economic base, makes Tupelo the definitive "hidden gem" for maximizing financial efficiency.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Violent Crime Rate (per 100k) | Rent (1BR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison | 27,775 | $120,918 | 291 | $997 |
| 2 | Olive Branch | 46,538 | $98,421 | 291 | $785 |
| 3 | Southaven | 55,531 | $76,159 | 291 | $785 |
| 4 | Tupelo | 37,825 | $66,314 | 291 | $714 |
| 5 | Biloxi | 49,011 | $55,958 | 291 | $923 |
| 6 | Gulfport | 72,824 | $47,564 | 291 | $923 |
| 7 | Hattiesburg | 48,507 | $44,140 | 291 | $906 |
| 8 | Jackson | 143,633 | $42,336 | 291 | $997 |
| 9 | Greenville | 28,833 | $36,297 | 291 | $714 |
| 10 | Meridian | 34,466 | $34,657 | 291 | $714 |