The Town FilesBrookhaven, Mississippi
City in Lincoln County · population 11,674 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $121,900
- Household income
- $36,685
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 42
- Median age
- 42.5
Brookhaven is a city of 11,674 people in Lincoln County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $121,900, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more walkable than 92% of Mississippi towns, more vibrant than 87% of Mississippi towns, hipper than 81% of Mississippi towns.
How Brookhaven ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Brookhaven is worth $121,900, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $36,685, which is more affordable than 25% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $740 a month. 53.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brookhaven | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $121,900 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $740 | $820 |
| Median household income | $36,685 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.7% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Brookhaven
| People | Brookhaven | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.6% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 1.7% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 18.5 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 83.3% |
Weather in Brookhaven
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 36.1°F. About 61.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 47 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brookhaven since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 21, 1972 about 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 1, 1978.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4922: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 12,767 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,539 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Brookhaven itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Brookhaven
11 public schools with 4,700 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BROOKHAVEN HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 806 | 14.9 |
| LOYD STAR SCHOOL | K-12 | 740 | 13.5 |
| ENTERPRISE SCHOOL | K-12 | 694 | 13.3 |
| WEST LINCOLN SCHOOL | K-12 | 645 | 12.9 |
| MAMIE MARTIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 631 | 11.9 |
| BROOKHAVEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-4 | 410 | 15.8 |
| LIPSEY SCHOOL | 5-6 | 352 | 12.6 |
| ALEXANDER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-8 | 338 | 11.7 |
| MS SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS | 11-12 | 84 | 9.3 |
| BROOKHAVEN TECHNICAL CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
| MULLINS SCHOOL | 2-12 | — | — |
Towns near Brookhaven
- Hazlehurst, MS19.8 mi · 3,619 people · home $110,500
- McComb, MS23.3 mi · 12,413 people · home $98,700
- Crystal Springs, MS28.8 mi · 4,862 people · home $113,000
Brookhaven questions
Is Brookhaven, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brookhaven scores better for retirees than 20% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 44%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Brookhaven?
The median owner-occupied home in Brookhaven is valued at $121,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,685, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $740 a month.
What is the weather like in Brookhaven?
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 36.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Brookhaven get tornadoes?
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brookhaven since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 21, 1972. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)