The Town FilesIndianola, Mississippi
City in Sunflower County · population 9,646 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $108,800
- Household income
- $41,708
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 35.7
Indianola is a city of 9,646 people in Sunflower County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $108,800, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more of a college town than 90% of Mississippi towns, better for young professionals than 88% of Mississippi towns, better for retirees than 80% of Mississippi towns.
How Indianola 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 Indianola is worth $108,800, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $41,708, which is more affordable than 66% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $720 a month. 51.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Indianola | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $108,800 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $720 | $820 |
| Median household income | $41,708 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 51.8% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Indianola
| People | Indianola | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.6% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.0% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.5% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.3% | 83.3% |
Weather in Indianola
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 35.1°F. About 55.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 35 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Indianola since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on February 21, 1971 about 7.3 miles from the town center and killed 25. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 25 deaths and 347 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 29, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 16, 1968.
Severe weather in Sunflower County since 1996
Sunflower County has been included in 22 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 |
| 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 Sunflower County
Sunflower County had 8,222 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,018 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Indianola itself the ACS puts it at 13.1%.
Public schools in Indianola
6 public schools with 1,520 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GENTRY HIGH SCHOOL | 10-12 | 505 | 13.3 |
| LOCKARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-3 | 382 | 14.1 |
| ROBERT L MERRITT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-9 | 376 | 13.4 |
| CARVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 4-6 | 257 | 11.2 |
| INDIANOLA ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT | K-12 | — | — |
| INDIANOLA CAREER & TECH CENTER | 10-12 | — | — |
Towns near Indianola
- Leland, MS14.6 mi · 3,988 people · home $109,700
- Ruleville, MS19.8 mi · 2,642 people · home $85,000
- Cleveland, MS21.0 mi · 11,199 people · home $159,300
- Greenville, MS24.0 mi · 29,670 people · home $103,800
- Greenwood, MS26.0 mi · 14,490 people · home $108,900
Indianola questions
Is Indianola, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Indianola scores better for retirees than 80% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 7%. 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Indianola?
The median owner-occupied home in Indianola is valued at $108,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,708, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $720 a month.
What is the weather like in Indianola?
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 35.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Indianola get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Indianola since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on February 21, 1971. 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)