9 Best Places To Call Home In Mississippi In 2025
You have probably cultivated the habit of dismissing the Magnolia State, but look around your shoulders, because you could be in your own world. According to the U.S. News & World Report, Mississippi is among the top 10 states people are searching to move to. And while we cannot pin it down to a specific attribute, we know that Mississippi has delicious food, lots of bayous and natural attractions to explore, and some of the best beaches in the South, especially along the Gulf Coast. Meanwhile, some of the state's highly rated casinos and resorts can rival the best in Las Vegas. Ready for the discovery? Keep reading to discover the 9 best places to call home in Mississippi in 2025.
Ocean Springs
The explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville established what is today called Ocean Springs in 1699 for France; it was the first permanent European settlement in the lower Mississippi River valley. Starting from around the 1890s, Ocean Springs became a popular Gulf Coast resort for cotton planters. With its massive live oaks, walkable downtown, and amazing art community, Ocean Springs is now among the best places to call home in Mississippi. Beautiful magnolia trees hide some interesting houses, while Ocean Springs Beach has nice sidewalks and a pier to mill about. Cultural highlights include the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, which keeps a large collection of works by the celebrated American painter, and the lively Mardi Gras parades that electrify the town every year. You will also love the nice children's park, as you will the Fort Maurepas City Park & Nature Preserve. The median listing home price in Ocean Springs was $300K in June 2025, a price point that comes with immediate access to Select Specialty Hospital Biloxi Inc.
Petal
With nice, affordable places like Petal, you don't have to insist on a coastal location, especially if you can still get to the beach in just about an hour. The median listing home price in Petal was $285,000 in June 2025. Notable amenities include Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, which has been a leader in medical excellence in South Mississippi since 1952. Petal City Park is an awesome place to take kids, especially as it has a free splash pad and a clean playground. On the flip side, Petal River Park MTB Trail has miles of trails perfect for hiking or riding a bike, while Leaf River runs through the town and adds a mist of rustic charm to an already beautiful location. The river is part of the Pinebelt Blueway and has a designated paddling section that flows from Eastabuchie to Hattiesburg. Also, the Petal School District consistently outperforms the state average on academic assessments, with Petal High School and Petal Middle School ranking among the top in the state.
Tupelo
Tupelo is tastefully positioned in northeastern Mississippi, about 70 miles northeast of Columbus and about an hour and a half to Memphis, Tennessee. Manufacturing is the biggest employer in Tupelo, with Health Care and Retail Trade following in the same order. Major employers include Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi and Cooper Tire & Rubber. Tupelo is the headquarters and focal point of the Natchez Trace Parkway, an incredibly scenic road that follows a historic travel corridor used by Native Americans. Other pleasure points include Spring Lake, the Elvis Presley Lake & Campground, and the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Park, which honours one of the world's most famous artists. The median listing home price in Tupelo was $299,700 in June 2025. On healthcare, the North Mississippi Medical Center-Tupelo has previously been recognized for the Stroke Care Excellence Award.
Biloxi
Biloxi lies on a narrow Gulf Coast peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico to the south and the Back Bay of Biloxi to the north. Casinos, an Air Force base, and a seafood industry keep things moving here and employ a decent proportion of residents. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, for instance, with its sweeping views of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, was recently voted Best Casino outside Las Vegas. You can catch a baseball game at the Keesler Federal Park, take your kids to Lopez Park to play and swing, or enjoy a breezy afternoon at the Lighthouse Park amid delicious waterfront views. Once in a while, you can visit Deer Island, a nice, pristine place for relaxing and enjoying nature. In June 2025, the median listing home price in Biloxi was $313,000. For any emergency, Merit Health Biloxi is just around the corner.
D'Iberville
You may have read about the Promenade at D’Iberville, widely recognized as the largest shopping center on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and one of the biggest in the entire state. Not just that, the Biloxi and Tchoutacabouffa rivers run through the city, offering the opportunity to live in a home with a boathouse. Of course, the waterways also enhance D’Iberville’s aesthetic appeal and offer a range of outdoor recreational opportunities. On entertainment, the highly rated Scarlet Pearl Casino has a fantastic selection of slot machines, while Mullet Hop Trampoline Park has an arcade and bowling alley that offer plenty of fun, especially for children. The median listing home price in D'Iberville was $297,300 in June 2025, a hair below the statewide median. With facilities such as Merit Health Biloxi, there is no need to worry about healthcare access.
Diamond Head
One key thing is that Diamond Head is located mostly north of I-10 and boasts some of the highest elevations on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This means you shouldn't worry much about a flood destroying your property or leaving you marooned. You will enjoy quiet living in a pleasant environment and an hour's access to New Orleans, a major cultural hub in the South. The scenery features beautiful rolling hills, while employment opportunities abound in the many vibrant towns within a 50-mile radius. You have the Diamondhead Country Club for epic views and a spontaneous game, specifically at the two 18‑hole championship courses. Other fun outdoor spots include Twin Lakes Pavilion and Park and the nearby Bayou La Croix Coastal Preserve, a fun place to fish or just get away. In June 2025, the median listing home price in Diamondhead was a budget-friendly $274,500, which comes with access to Hancock Medical Center in neighbouring Bay St. Louis.
Gautier
Good schools and good local restaurants are some features that position Gautier as a fantastic place to call home. Not once had the Pascagoula-Gautier School District (PGSD) received an A rating from the Mississippi Department of Education, with several schools posting impressive academic scores. With Mobile, Alabama, just 40 minutes down the road, cultural attractions and job opportunities are relatively easy to access. Outdoor attractions include the nationally famous Gulf Islands National Seashore, a stunning preserve with beautiful beaches and peaceful trails, the swoon-worthy Shepard State Park, and the Pascagoula River, which meanders through the town. In June 2025, the median listing home price in Gautier was just $219,000, way cheaper than the statewide median. For any medical emergency, Singing River Hospital is a whisper away and was the first to open a 24-hour physician-staffed Emergency Department in Mississippi.
Amory
If you are scoping for a nice place to live and working with a tight budget, Amory is a good place to consider. The median listing home price in Amory was $179,000 in June 2025, an incredibly affordable price point even by Mississippi standards. Yet, this price point does not come with being tucked away in the middle of nowhere. You have amenities such as the North Mississippi Medical Center Gilmore-Amory, whose Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Centre was recently awarded the prestigious Robert A. Warriner, M.D., Clinical Excellence Award. The clean and peaceful Lake Monroe is to the west of town, while the centrally located River Birch Golf Club has a nice course with good greens. Taking the cue, Frisco Park is right in the middle of the city and features a small splash pad, a decent pavilion, and a lovely walking area for an afternoon stroll. Neighboring towns such as Tupelo and Aberdeen offer broader employment opportunities.
Pascagoula
Unlike other locations along the Gulf Coast, Pascagoula is seldom run down by tourists, meaning you get to enjoy a little bit more peace and elbow room. With Mobile, Alabama, just 40 minutes to the northeast of town, residents here are never far from all shades of big-city amenities and cultural attractions. The best part is that you can go from a secluded rural setting among ranches to a nice white-sand beach in 20 minutes. Plus, homes in the area are significantly more affordable, especially considering they fetch a median listing price of just $171,000. Also, Singing River's Pascagoula Hospital is at your doorstep. It is a full-service, 435-bed hospital that provides a large variety of inpatient and outpatient services, including intensive care units. Once in a while, you can spend time at the Pascagoula Beach Park, visit the nearby Gulf Islands National Seashore, or float down the Pascagoula River, the largest unimpeded river in the contiguous 48 states.
From golf courses that are par excellence to casinos and resorts that look down on their counterparts in New Orleans and Las Vegas, Mississippi has several things to offer residents. No wonder it is among the most sought-after destinations in the United States. Of course, Mississippi is also among the most affordable states in which to live. It boasts a house median listing price of just $299,000. Ready to enjoy the shady beauty of moss-draped oaks and magnolias? From Ocean Springs to Tupelo, you have several solid options to consider.
