The Town FilesHouston, Mississippi
City in Chickasaw County · population 3,797 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,800
- Household income
- $44,023
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 32.5
Houston is a city of 3,797 people in Chickasaw County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $122,800, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Mississippi towns, quieter than 83% of Mississippi towns.
- #1 in The 21 Best Small Towns to Retire in Mississippi
- #2 in The 15 Quietest Small Towns in Mississippi
- #18 in 24 Small Towns in Mississippi With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #20 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Mississippi
- #28 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #28 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Houston 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 Houston is worth $122,800, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $44,023, which is more affordable than 56% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $727 a month. 54.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Houston | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,800 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $727 | $820 |
| Median household income | $44,023 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.8% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Houston
| People | Houston | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.5 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 28.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.6% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.2% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 83.3% |
Weather in Houston
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 32.3°F. About 59.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 54 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Houston since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 27, 2011 about 4.3 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 15 deaths and 95 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 8, 2014.
Severe weather in Chickasaw County since 1996
Chickasaw County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, 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 16, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4536: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Chickasaw County
Chickasaw County had 4,497 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $38,490 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Houston itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Houston
6 public schools with 1,730 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 511 | 15.0 |
| HOUSTON LOWER ELEMENTARY | PK-2 | 483 | 11.5 |
| HOUSTON UPPER ELEMENTARY | 3-5 | 381 | 14.1 |
| HOUSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 355 | 11.5 |
| HOUSTON ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL | 6-12 | — | — |
| HOUSTON CAREER & TECHNOLOGY ED. | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Houston
- Okolona, MS16.5 mi · 2,513 people · home $92,200
- Pontotoc, MS24.5 mi · 5,640 people · home $155,800
- Verona, MS26.0 mi · 2,792 people · home $118,300
- Aberdeen, MS26.2 mi · 4,961 people · home $87,600
- West Point, MS28.2 mi · 10,105 people · home $153,900
Houston questions
Is Houston, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Houston scores better for retirees than 100% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 83%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.5).
How much does a house cost in Houston?
The median owner-occupied home in Houston is valued at $122,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,023, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $727 a month.
What is the weather like in Houston?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 32.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Houston get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Houston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 27, 2011. 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)