The Town FilesMeridian, Mississippi
City in Lauderdale County · population 35,052 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $107,900
- Household income
- $36,562
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 42
- Median age
- 39.4
Meridian is a city of 35,052 people in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $107,900, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more walkable than 94% of Mississippi towns, more vibrant than 92% of Mississippi towns, better for cycling than 90% of Mississippi towns.
How Meridian 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 Meridian is worth $107,900, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $36,562, which is more affordable than 45% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $910 a month. 48.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Meridian | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $107,900 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $910 | $820 |
| Median household income | $36,562 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 48.7% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Meridian
| People | Meridian | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.3% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.0% | 83.3% |
Weather in Meridian
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 36.4°F. About 57.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 86 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 48 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Meridian since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 12, 1986 about 5.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 85 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 58 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 3, 1984.
Severe weather in Lauderdale County since 1996
Lauderdale County has been included in 24 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 |
| May 4, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4598: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Lauderdale County
Lauderdale County had 31,040 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,153 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Meridian itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Meridian
21 public schools with 9,383 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,314 | 13.7 |
| NORTHEAST LAUDERDALE ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 746 | 11.8 |
| WEST LAUDERDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-4 | 725 | 14.2 |
| NORTHEAST LAUDERDALE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 610 | 13.6 |
| SOUTHEAST LAUDERDALE ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 564 | 15.2 |
| CLARKDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 542 | 13.6 |
| NORTHEAST LAUDERDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 539 | 12.5 |
| G.W. WASHINGTON CARVER ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 532 | 16.1 |
| NORTHWEST JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 6-8 | 518 | 13.3 |
| MAGNOLIA MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 443 | 13.0 |
| WEST HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 428 | 15.9 |
| CLARKDALE HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 410 | 11.1 |
Towns near Meridian
- Newton, MS27.0 mi · 3,195 people · home $88,800
Meridian questions
Is Meridian, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Meridian scores better for retirees than 15% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 8%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Meridian?
The median owner-occupied home in Meridian is valued at $107,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,562, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $910 a month.
What is the weather like in Meridian?
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 36.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Meridian get tornadoes?
42 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Meridian since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 12, 1986. 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)