The Town FilesMississippi State, Mississippi
Community in Oktibbeha County · population 4,968 (2020 Census)
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 19.1
Mississippi State is a community of 4,968 people in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Mississippi towns, hipper than 99% of Mississippi towns, more of a college town than 99% of Mississippi towns.
How Mississippi State 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
| Housing | Mississippi State | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | — | $124,700 |
| Median rent | — | $820 |
| Median household income | — | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | — | 65.3% |
| Median year built | — | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mississippi State
| People | Mississippi State | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 19.1 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 0.0% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 0.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 0.0% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | — | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 20.0% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 16.5 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | — | 83.3% |
Weather in Mississippi State
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 33.2°F. About 58.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 78 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mississippi State since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on February 20, 1951 about 4.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 8, 2025.
Severe weather in Oktibbeha County since 1996
Oktibbeha County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, biological, severe storm.
| 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 Oktibbeha County
Oktibbeha County had 20,428 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,613 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Mississippi State itself the ACS puts it at 12.6%.
Towns near Mississippi State
- Starkville, MS2.2 mi · 24,360 people · home $299,900
- West Point, MS13.2 mi · 10,105 people · home $153,900
- Columbus, MS22.5 mi · 24,084 people · home $125,700
- New Hope, MS25.9 mi · 3,161 people · home $238,200
- Macon, MS26.5 mi · 2,582 people · home $97,400
- Louisville, MS27.3 mi · 6,072 people · home $136,600
- Aberdeen, MS29.4 mi · 4,961 people · home $87,600
Mississippi State questions
Is Mississippi State, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mississippi State scores better for retirees than 22% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 10%. 0.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 19.1).
What is the weather like in Mississippi State?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 33.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Mississippi State get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mississippi State since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on February 20, 1951. 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)