The Town FilesIuka, Mississippi
City in Tishomingo County · population 3,139 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,700
- Household income
- $49,290
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 36.9
Iuka is a city of 3,139 people in Tishomingo County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $124,700, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks hipper than 92% of Mississippi towns, easier by car than 87% of Mississippi towns, better for first-time buyers than 77% of Mississippi towns.
- #10 in The 20 Best Small Towns for Families in Mississippi
- #13 in 24 Small Towns in Mississippi With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #14 in The 15 Quietest Small Towns in Mississippi
- #14 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Mississippi
- #15 in The 21 Best Small Towns to Retire in Mississippi
- #15 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Mississippi
How Iuka 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 Iuka is worth $124,700, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $49,290, which is more affordable than 71% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $664 a month. 69.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Iuka | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,700 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $664 | $820 |
| Median household income | $49,290 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.3% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Iuka
| People | Iuka | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.7% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.6% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 83.3% |
Weather in Iuka
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 27.8°F. About 62.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Iuka since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 4, 1988 about 5.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 29, 1996.
Severe weather in Tishomingo County since 1996
Tishomingo County has been included in 19 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 Tishomingo County
Tishomingo County had 6,121 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,591 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Iuka itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Iuka
3 public schools with 1,340 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TISHOMINGO COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 605 | 14.8 |
| IUKA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 411 | 12.1 |
| IUKA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 324 | 13.0 |
Towns near Iuka
- Corinth, MS20.4 mi · 14,622 people · home $177,100
- Booneville, MS23.3 mi · 9,126 people · home $136,700
- Red Bay, AL25.9 mi · 3,232 people · home $108,200
- Sheffield, AL28.6 mi · 9,403 people · home $133,800
- Savannah, TN28.7 mi · 7,213 people · home $160,200
- Underwood-Petersville, AL28.7 mi · 3,051 people · home $142,900
- Tuscumbia, AL28.7 mi · 9,054 people · home $196,700
Iuka questions
Is Iuka, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Iuka scores better for retirees than 75% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 61%. 25.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Iuka?
The median owner-occupied home in Iuka is valued at $124,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,290, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $664 a month.
What is the weather like in Iuka?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 27.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 62.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Iuka get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Iuka since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 4, 1988. 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)