9 Most Neighborly Towns In Mississippi
In Mississippi, the friendliest small towns share an easy, welcoming feel from the moment you arrive, whether that comes from breezy Gulf Coast creativity, courthouse square traditions, or the built-in energy of college town culture around Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Ocean Springs pairs galleries and the Walter Anderson Museum of Art with the Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival each November, while Corinth leans into live music around the courthouse and a classic slugburger stop that feels like a local rite of passage. From harborfront strolls in Bay St. Louis to festival weekends in Oxford and Starkville, these nine towns make it easy to settle in fast and even easier to start planning a return trip.
Oxford
Home to Ole Miss, Oxford shapes Mississippi’s cultural heart through more than just the institution here. One of the best claims to fame, and among the common reasons tourists flock to Oxford, is that this is where the famed author William Faulkner lived. You can still see his house, Rowan Oak, and tour it right here in town. The town stays abuzz with youthful energy from the campus, adding a layer of friendliness and welcome to those who might be here for the first time. When spring arrives, the Double Decker Arts Festival spills color into alleys and sidewalks, drawing crowds eager to dive into regional art. Oxford has been recognized in Southern Living multiple times as one of the best towns to visit in the South.
Since the town was incorporated in 1837, The Square has been a central district with shops, eateries, and attractions. North Lamar is one of the streets that make up this historic central spot, and some of the town’s best eateries exist here, like Big Bad Breakfast, an early morning and lunch-only eatery that specializes in signature items like Tabasco brown sugar bacon, grits, and southern fried chicken.
Natchez
Natchez is one of Mississippi’s earliest settlements, its streets layered with many cultures that have shaped the town’s growth since 1716. Some of the homes here showcase the antebellum style that predates the Civil War; among them are Longwood, Stanton Hall, and Melrose. The Longwood House Museum is an interesting educational opportunity for tourists because it was never completed. The tour of this building shows a mansion mid-construction, offering a unique glimpse at the practices and artifacts of this popular architectural style.
Though small in size, the town draws attention for warmth, earning a reputation as one of the nation’s most welcoming spots. Part of that allure and welcoming nature comes in the form of comforting food, such as Biscuits & Blues. This restaurant has a mission to preserve hot biscuits and cool blues, and does so by offering hearty southern cuisine ranging from smoked ribs to gumbo, all while live music helps you embrace the blues that Mississippi created.
Ocean Springs
Known as the "City of Discovery," Ocean Springs is one of the most creative places on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Since its founding in 1699 as the first lasting settlement of French Louisiana, culture has taken root here and is shaped by French, Creole, and American cultures. A good representation of these different cultures at work in the community's cuisine is The Lady May. Beyond its relaxed atmosphere, the menu is predominantly Gulf-sourced seafood, but also southern staples like honey butter fried chicken and Creole creations like their Crawfish Monica.
Art and creation are part of the town itself, as evidenced by the fact that each November, the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival draws almost 100,000 people to town. This event has gained national attention over time, making Ocean Springs synonymous with fine arts. The Walter Anderson Museum of Art is also a vital centerpiece to Ocean Springs’ reputation as an art-driven coastal community, and the museum houses some of the most impressive works of American art in a “Little Room” mural series.
Tupelo
To understand why Tupelo might be on the list of friendliest cities in Mississippi, look to its prestige as a five-time recipient of the All-America City Award from the National Civic League. This award recognizes inclusiveness and innovation. Though best known worldwide as the place where Elvis Presley was born. Come June, the Tupelo Elvis Festival unfolds, more than just impersonations and food, but a whole-town gathering that attracts thousands to celebrate the King of Rock.
If visitors are not coming to find out where the music icon got his start, they are arriving for the southern charm and the Civil War history, both abundant here in Tupelo. For the southern charm, look no further than a hot plate of top-notch fried chicken by a place with the dish right in its name: Connie’s Fried Chicken. Except locals here will tell you that even better than the chicken is the handmade hot blueberry donuts here. Diving into the history of Tupelo is best done at the Tupelo National Battlefield Site on Main Street, where Confederate and Union armies clashed for control of the town in one of the bloodiest battles Mississippi ever saw.
Starkville
Starkville has a unique, welcoming vibe, largely because it is built around Mississippi State University. Perfectly positioned between the bustling campus and downtown, the Cotton District stands out as a historic quarter full of small shops, eateries, and entertainment. Starkville has been called a top foodie town in Mississippi, with more restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the state. One of the more unique options, voted best pizza in 2020 from the Starkville Daily News Poll, is the Dark Horse Tavern. The place is a favorite because of its selection of New York and Chicago-style pies, plus filling fare like burgers, wraps, and ‘pub grub.’
Separating from the campus and its overall youthful energy in the town, Starkville also has a lot of history within its city limits. The community features one of the most comprehensive collections of artifacts, photographs, and memorabilia from and about the 18th president of the United States, at the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library.
Corinth
Up against the Tennessee state line, you can find Corinth, a town that has been defined by the railroad and multiple conflicts. Where two key train routes once converged, Corinth was fought over again and again in the Civil War. Today, it is best known as the gateway to Shiloh National Military Park, which contains multiple historic sites and the Shiloh Indian Mounds.
Small details give this quaint community a reputation for being welcoming and friendly, such as Pickin’ on the Square, a long-running series of live music around the courthouse that has happened weekly (May through October) since 2003. While Corinth might be best known for a special creation called a slugburger, which is a modified burger from the Great Depression era that combined meat with soy, flour, and potato flakes, there are plenty of places serving delicious southern delicacies as well. One of the top stops for visitors here in town is Russell’s Beef House, a steakhouse that has stood here since 1978.
Bay St. Louis
Built along the edge where the Pearl River meets the Gulf of Mexico, Bay St. Louis is a vibrant and lively coastal community. Its reputation as friendly has a lot to do with its ranking among America’s coolest small towns by Budget Travel in 2013 and its spot on Southern Living’s list of the top 50 southern towns in 2023. Known locally as "The Bay," art plays a crucial role in how the whole town operates, as evidenced by attractions like the Alice Moseley Folk Art Museum. This destination celebrates the work of one of Mississippi’s most celebrated folk artists, who officially settled into Bay St. Louis in her late 70s.
Though only sixty miles from New Orleans, the town keeps a character that is very different from what you will find in the nearby Louisiana metropolis. The best expression of this is through food, as you find it on plates at the Wicked Pig Kitchen and Bar. This BBQ place has become a sensation among locals for its short ribs, brisket burgers, and pork belly bao buns.
Columbus
Columbus lives up to its nickname, “The Friendly City,” as one of several tourist-heavy destinations in Mississippi. Founded in the 1810s, the town is home to over 150 sites now protected by the National Register of Historic Places. But perhaps even more universally interesting history is that Columbus is where noted playwright Tennessee Williams was born. You can learn all about his early years and later successes in life at one of the town’s top attractions: The Tennessee Williams House Museum & Welcome Center.
Equally notable for its unique historical significance is the Mississippi University for Women, which pioneered public higher education for women across the nation. Columbus also celebrates its history through food, and locals go to Huck’s Place, a Cajun and Creole mashup that has earned multiple awards, including Best Steak in Mississippi in 2023 and Best Burger in Mississippi in 2025.
Laurel
Laurel has evolved dramatically from its beginnings and is now one of the most visited small towns in Mississippi. Long ago, this place was known as a sawmill town harvesting yellow pines, but today it is much better known as the featured town in a long-running HGTV series called Home Town, which follows residents Ben and Erin Napier as they restore historic homes here. History is also infused into the attractions here, starting with the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art. This place has stood on 5th Avenue since 1923, never charging admission, yet featuring an eclectic assortment of Native American, American, and European artwork and artifacts.
As the popular show suggests, Laurel loves to repurpose buildings and homes. A former jewelry store on 5th Avenue, for example, can become one of the most popular eateries in the community. Pearl’s Diner is known for all the southern staples, from fried chicken to black-eyed peas and homemade macaroni and cheese. When you need a break from the action, the community sits near Paul B. Johnson State Park, so just a short drive brings you to forest paths, campsites, and lake recreation far removed from daily noise.
Experiencing the Friendliness of Mississippi
Mississippi is known for many things. The state is widely considered the birthplace of the blues, for example. But within the small towns, each place has a story of its own, from Tupelo being where the King of Rock, Elvis Presley, was born to Ben and Erin Napier working to restore historic homes in Laurel for the hit program Home Town. Whatever draws people in, these nine towns have a welcoming vibe that makes them feel like Alice Moseley when she visited Bay St. Louis for the first time in her late 70s: this is where I want to spend the rest of my life.
