9 Charming Mississippi Communities To Retire Around Jackson

If you are about to finally pull the plug on your work life and enter a phase that is free, spontaneous, and adventurous, Mississippi is a great place to focus on. The Magnolia State is consistently ranked among the most affordable states to retire, making it a top consideration for a money-wise empty nester. If it has ever crossed your mind when thinking of places to retire, the area around Jackson is particularly convenient. While different retirees consider different factors, the following are nine charming communities to retire around Jackson. Each of them is less than two hours from Jackson, with most of them swinging towards the more affordable side.

Richland

Richland is a small, quiet town right on the wings of Jackson. Safewise ranks it among the safest towns in Mississippi for 2025, meaning retirement here comes with low crime-related anxiety. According to data from realtor.com, the median listing home price in Richland was $225K in July 2025, way lower than the state median of $299,000. Similarly, according to data from Ownwell, the median effective property tax rate in Richland is 0.93%, significantly lower than the national median of 1.02%, as well as the Mississippi state median of 1.31%. On healthcare access, the Mississippi Baptist Medical Center is down the road in Jackson and recently earned a platinum award for top-quality heart care. Outdoor attractions include the Pearl River, which flows west of town, Hoover Lakes, and Cleary Lake, a peaceful spot to occasionally fish for largemouth bass and channel catfish.

Petal

Petal is about 90 miles from downtown Jackson. It boasts one of the best school districts in the state, with Petal High School (PHS) regularly bagging top positions in the national, state, and metro-area rankings. What may move your feet, however, is that Safewise ranks Petal as the safest town in Mississippi for 2025. The median listing home price in Petal was $289,000 in August 2025, a surprisingly affordable price point considering what the town offers.

In the same breath, the effective property tax rate in Petal is 1.28%, slightly lower than the Mississippi state median of 1.31%. There is the Hattiesburg Clinic Immediate Care - Petal for any urgent needs, and Merit Health Wesley in nearby Hattiesburg. Petal City Park is an awesome place to take kids (or grandkids), while Leaf River provides several recreational opportunities. Also, Petal River Park MTB Trail has miles of trails suitable for hiking or riding a bike and can form a crucial part of your fitness routine.

Columbia

If you thought Columbia was just a stop on the way to Hattiesburg, you have arrived late to the party. Columbia is a quiet, slow-paced town with a well-manicured park that has several tennis courts, a sign of some affluence and sophistication. Columbia Water Park, where people go for an afternoon of boating fun on the Pearl River, and Mimosa Landing Campground, a quiet and peaceful spot to occasionally spend a night under the starry sky, are among the most patronized recreational spots in the area.

De Soto National Forest, a woodsy wilderness that offers camping, canoeing, and fishing opportunities, is just about an hour east. On a different note, the Marion General Hospital, which caters to several kinds of medical needs in the area, is at your doorstep. To cap it off, with a median listing home price of $167,000, Columbia is a solid retirement option. It is 84 miles from downtown Jackson, a distance of about an hour and a half.

Clinton

Clinton is also ranked among the safest towns in Mississippi, with Safewise giving it the eighth spot in its safety rankings for 2025. Being just 11 miles west of Jackson, a retiree here enjoys immediate access to all kinds of big-city amenities and cultural attractions. For example, Merit Health Central, formerly Hinds General Hospital, has long been a health care and employment hub in south and west Jackson. The median listing home price in Clinton was $309,200 in August 2025, just a hair above the state median of $299,000.

The median effective property tax rate in Clinton is 1.31%, the same as the statewide equivalent. With its historic charm, local arts, and beautiful public parks, including Brighton Park and Town Springs Park, boredom is almost an alien word here. Pet lovers should particularly take note of the Kids Towne Park and Dog Park, the go-to spot for furry friends to stretch and get some sunshine. Also, you are at the doorstep of Mississippi College, the oldest institution of higher learning in the state.

McComb

If you want a cool place near Jackson to retire and don't want to open your wallet wide, McComb is hard to beat. The median listing home price in McComb was $122,000 in August 2025, a price point that is unbelievably affordable even by Mississippi standards. McComb is 79 miles from downtown Jackson, a driving distance of just over an hour. Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, which caters to the healthcare needs of residents, recently acquired some high-tech MRI equipment, reportedly the first of its kind in the state. You will find groceries at places like McComb Market, occasionally enjoy some calm and clarity at Edgewood Park, or paddle the nearby Lake Tangipahoa. Percy Quin State Park, which is on the lake, has a beautiful golf course, some rustic cabins, and peaceful campsites.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia is 80 miles from downtown Jackson, a driving distance of about an hour and a half. With a house median listing price in the low- to mid-$200,000s and a median effective property tax rate of 1.23%, lower than the Mississippi state median of 1.31%, one is able to retire here on the cheap. On healthcare access, Neshoba General Hospital has been serving Neshoba County and the surrounding areas since 1948.

William Brothers, which opened in 1907, is an old-school general store that supplies grocery staples, fresh vegetables, and several kinds of outdoor gear. It also has a large selection of Amish-made goods, especially of the leather and hand-crafted variety. Places to have fun include Ellis Theater (expect great acoustics), Philadelphia Country Club, if golfing floats your boat, and Northside Park, where you can rest, fish, or walk in a beautiful, wooded area.

Grenada

Grenada is a charming little town conveniently located between Jackson, Mississippi, and Memphis, Tennessee. It is also about an hour away from Oxford, touted as the Cultural Mecca of the South and home to Ole Miss (the University of Mississippi). As an empty nester here, you will enjoy the amenities, restaurants, and shopping opportunities that bigger cities offer without sacrificing the endearing small-town charm that most retirees crave. Grenada Lake, known for some of the best crappie fishing in the country, is in your backyard. The same is true of the Grenada Lake Loop, a lovely scenic drive along the shimmering beauty.

Hugh White State Park, another outdoor wonderland that keeps the mood constantly cheerful, is the perfect spot to press the “pause” button and get intimate with nature. On healthcare access, UMMC Grenada is part of the University of Mississippi Medical Center and provides more than 20 kinds of specialized care. With a median listing home price of just $194,700 and a median effective property tax rate of 0.89%, significantly lower than the national median of 1.02%, as well as the state median of 1.31%, a retiree's finances here will not take a big hit.

Kosciusko

As retirees grapple with median listing prices of above $1 million in places like California, Kosciusko, with a median listing price of just $142,500, can look too good to be true. Not just that. The median effective property tax rate in Kosciusko is 1.07%, lower than the Mississippi state median of 1.31%. Baptist Memorial Hospital-Attala, which is right in town, is a 25-bed community hospital that offers Senior Life Solutions Intensive Outpatient Program, inpatient services, outpatient services, and 24-hour emergency services.

It was founded in 1938 as Montfort Jones Memorial Hospital. Keep in mind that Kosciusko is the largest and closest city to the spectacular Natchez Trace Parkway, which draws millions of Americans every year. Other places to have fun include Country Club Lake, the family-friendly Jason Niles Park, and the Attala County Library, a cool place to get snug with a gripping read. Kosciusko is 71 miles from downtown Jackson.

Vicksburg

A small but vibrant town of about 20,000 residents, Vicksburg offers a blend of Southern charm, rich culture, and interesting history. There is a lot to enjoy in town, including riverfront views, eye-catching murals, and inviting restaurants. Plus, the town is home to two impressive cantilever bridges that span the mighty Mississippi River, architectural marvels that offer some of the most breathtaking views in the area.

A retiree will enjoy spending time at places like the Vicksburg National Battlefield, a well-known landmark that commemorates one of the most decisive Civil War battles in the South, the Vicksburg National Military Park, a pensive space filled with beautiful monuments to the fallen, and the Vicksburg City Park, the go-to spot to meet and have fun. The median listing home price in Vicksburg is $175,200, while the median effective property tax rate is 1.12%, lower than the state median. For any medical emergency, Merit Health River Region is right in town.

It does not hog the limelight, but Mississippi is a smart choice, especially if thinking about retirement locations. Life down here is cheap, slow-paced, and incredibly full of outdoor adventure. Retirement around Jackson particularly hits the sweet spot between affordability, small-town charm, and big-city amenities. Not just that. You don't lose access to glittering lakes, raging rivers, and sun-dappled forests with quiet trails to occasionally explore. From Richland to Vicksburg, you can't miss finding a town with your name on it.