The Town FilesHorn Lake, Mississippi
City in DeSoto County · population 26,736 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $171,400
- Household income
- $53,311
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 33.5
Horn Lake is a city of 26,736 people in DeSoto County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $171,400, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Mississippi towns, more walkable than 95% of Mississippi towns, better for first-time buyers than 79% of Mississippi towns.
How Horn Lake 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 Horn Lake is worth $171,400, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $53,311, which is more affordable than 30% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $1,435 a month. 58.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Horn Lake | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,400 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $1,435 | $820 |
| Median household income | $53,311 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 58.1% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Horn Lake
| People | Horn Lake | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.5 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.0% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.5% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.0% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 83.3% |
Weather in Horn Lake
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 33.3°F. About 54.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.4 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 72 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 45 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Horn Lake since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 24, 1970 about 1.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 143 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 70 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 Horn Lake itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Horn Lake
5 public schools with 4,108 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HORN LAKE HIGH | 9-12 | 1,291 | 14.7 |
| HORN LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 993 | 14.2 |
| HORN LAKE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 3-5 | 882 | 14.9 |
| HORN LAKE ELEM | PK-2 | 509 | 12.4 |
| SHADOW OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-2 | 433 | 12.4 |
Towns near Horn Lake
- Southaven, MS4.1 mi · 54,648 people · home $236,300
- Hernando, MS7.8 mi · 17,138 people · home $315,900
- Memphis, TN11.8 mi · 633,104 people · home $169,000
- Olive Branch, MS11.8 mi · 39,711 people · home $290,000
- West Memphis, AR16.1 mi · 24,520 people · home $120,100
- Germantown, TN17.6 mi · 41,333 people · home $470,800
- Marion, AR19.6 mi · 13,752 people · home $212,400
- Collierville, TN21.0 mi · 51,324 people · home $485,900
Horn Lake questions
Is Horn Lake, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Horn Lake scores better for retirees than 4% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 7%. 11.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.5).
How much does a house cost in Horn Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Horn Lake is valued at $171,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,311, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,435 a month.
What is the weather like in Horn Lake?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 33.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.9 inches of precipitation a year and 1.4 inches of snow.
Does Horn Lake get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Horn Lake 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)