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Petal, MS

Photo: Wikipedia

Petal, MS

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 38
Population11,195
Foreign Born1.0%
Population Density662people per mi²
Median Age37.2 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

72/100

28% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Petal, Mississippi

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $15k$29k
Comfortable $31k$46k
Luxury $103k+$160k+
Elite (Top 5%) $121k+$188k+
Affordability Ratio

158%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean92%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
37
Positive
40
Poor
7
Negative
2

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

1.7mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

4.1mi

Airport

Helipad

4.5mi

Post Office

USPS — Hattiesburg, MS

5.4mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf0Nearest 14.9 mi
Camping20Nearest 14.4 mi
Marina0 
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range4Nearest 6.8 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C-
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$73k+17.6%
3% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$301k
54% below US avg
College Educated
29.1%
17% below US avg
WFH
3.4%
76% below US avg
Homeownership
72.3%
11% above US avg
Median Home
$161k
43% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
A+
Very Safe

Lower crime rates than 93% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
5.2
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−42.4%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−81.6%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
0.26 / 1k Residents81% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr−3.1%
Burglary
2.83 / 1k Residents53% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
1.54 / 1k Residents79% below state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
0.34 / 1k Residents70% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+21Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Petal, Mississippi
Dem Rep
20%30%40%50%60%70%80%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C+
Weak9.8% of income
Property Rights
D-
WeakIJ Grade D-
Firearm Rights
B
GoodFPC Grade B
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (50% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
D-
RestrictedLimited
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A-
Broadly LegalMedical + Decrim.

Homesteading

Hardiness Zone8B~18°F min
Growing Season276 days351 frost-free
Annual Rainfall63.5"
Elevation161 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A
Great1068 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak662/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A+
Great0 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
D-
PoorInland Flooding
Border / Coast
B
Fairborder 614 mi · coast 69 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$33.3M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T09:41:54.000Z

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