The Town FilesForrest County, Mississippi
78,272 people. The median home is worth $168,000 (typical Mississippi town: $124,700) and the median household earns $53,640.
Towns in Forrest County
| Town | People | Median home | Income | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hattiesburg | 48,730 | $165,900 | $46,342 | 29.4 |
| Petal | 11,010 | $174,900 | $74,750 | 37.0 |
People and housing
| Forrest County | Typical Mississippi town | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,000 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $972 | $820 |
| Median household income | $53,640 | $45,965 |
| Median age | 32.0 | 37.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.6% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.0% | 22.9% |
Jobs and pay
39,390 jobs in 2024, average pay $51,547 a year.
Storms since 1996
NOAA recorded 725 storm events in Forrest County from 1996 to 2026, with 11 deaths.
Federal disaster declarations
Forrest County has been included in 32 FEMA declarations since 1953.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| October 28, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3550: Hurricane Zeta |
| October 8, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3548: Hurricane Delta |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).