The Town FilesFlorence, Mississippi
City in Rankin County · population 4,572 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $230,800
- Household income
- $86,308
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 52
- Median age
- 35.4
Florence is a city of 4,572 people in Rankin County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $230,800, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better transit than 95% of Mississippi towns, better for families than 89% of Mississippi towns, more upscale than 78% of Mississippi towns.
How Florence 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 Florence is worth $230,800, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $86,308, which is more affordable than 61% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $923 a month. 69.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Florence | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,800 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $923 | $820 |
| Median household income | $86,308 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.7% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1999 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Florence
| People | Florence | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.7% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 30.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 31.5 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 83.3% |
Weather in Florence
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 36.6°F. About 57.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 40 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
52 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Florence since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 21, 1992 about 7.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 126 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 25, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 92 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 31, 1996.
Severe weather in Rankin County since 1996
Rankin County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4727: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes. |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Rankin County
Rankin County had 67,059 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,290 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Florence itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Florence
6 public schools with 3,469 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLORENCE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 741 | 15.8 |
| FLORENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 575 | 13.1 |
| STEEN'S CREEK ELEMENTARY | PK-2 | 569 | 12.6 |
| MCLAURIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 552 | 12.3 |
| FLORENCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 529 | 14.7 |
| MCLAURIN ATTENDANCE CENTER | 7-12 | 503 | 9.5 |
Towns near Florence
- Richland, MS5.6 mi · 7,137 people · home $125,800
- Pearl, MS8.3 mi · 27,115 people · home $182,500
- Byram, MS9.9 mi · 12,666 people · home $206,600
- Brandon, MS11.4 mi · 25,138 people · home $278,900
- Jackson, MS12.3 mi · 153,701 people · home $111,700
- Flowood, MS12.8 mi · 10,202 people · home $342,200
- Crystal Springs, MS17.8 mi · 4,862 people · home $113,000
- Ridgeland, MS18.7 mi · 24,340 people · home $275,200
Florence questions
Is Florence, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Florence scores better for retirees than 76% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 62%. 10.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Florence?
The median owner-occupied home in Florence is valued at $230,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,308, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $923 a month.
What is the weather like in Florence?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 36.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Florence get tornadoes?
52 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Florence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 21, 1992. 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)