The Town FilesHernando, Mississippi
City in DeSoto County · population 17,138 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $315,900
- Household income
- $76,950
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 38.6
Hernando is a city of 17,138 people in DeSoto County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $315,900, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for families than 98% of Mississippi towns, more upscale than 95% of Mississippi towns, better transit than 85% of Mississippi towns.
How Hernando 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 Hernando is worth $315,900, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $76,950, which is more affordable than 8% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $1,302 a month. 81.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hernando | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $315,900 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $1,302 | $820 |
| Median household income | $76,950 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.2% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hernando
| People | Hernando | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.5% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 83.3% |
Weather in Hernando
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 30.2°F. About 56.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 70 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hernando since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 24, 1970 about 9.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 103 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 58 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 11, 2023.
Severe weather in DeSoto County since 1996
DeSoto County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4528: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in DeSoto County
DeSoto County had 72,666 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,687 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Hernando itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Hernando
7 public schools with 5,895 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HERNANDO HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,482 | 18.5 |
| HERNANDO MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,147 | 17.4 |
| LEWISBURG MIDDLE | 6-8 | 1,005 | 18.3 |
| OAK GROVE CENTRAL ELEMENTARY | 4-5 | 767 | 15.3 |
| HERNANDO HILLS ELEMENTARY | 2-3 | 750 | 15.6 |
| HERNANDO ELEM | K-1 | 744 | 11.3 |
| DESOTO COUNTY ALTERNATIVE CENTER | K-12 | — | — |
Towns near Hernando
- Southaven, MS7.1 mi · 54,648 people · home $236,300
- Horn Lake, MS7.8 mi · 26,736 people · home $171,400
- Olive Branch, MS11.3 mi · 39,711 people · home $290,000
- Senatobia, MS16.7 mi · 8,354 people · home $212,100
- Memphis, TN18.0 mi · 633,104 people · home $169,000
- Germantown, TN20.0 mi · 41,333 people · home $470,800
- Collierville, TN21.7 mi · 51,324 people · home $485,900
- West Memphis, AR23.8 mi · 24,520 people · home $120,100
Hernando questions
Is Hernando, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hernando scores better for retirees than 61% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 38%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Hernando?
The median owner-occupied home in Hernando is valued at $315,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,950, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,302 a month.
What is the weather like in Hernando?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 30.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Hernando get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hernando since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 24, 1970. 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)