The Town FilesOlive Branch, Mississippi
City in DeSoto County · population 39,711 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $290,000
- Household income
- $100,606
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 38.0
Olive Branch is a city of 39,711 people in DeSoto County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $290,000, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more upscale than 93% of Mississippi towns, more vibrant than 91% of Mississippi towns, better for families than 87% of Mississippi towns.
How Olive Branch 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 Olive Branch is worth $290,000, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $100,606, which is more affordable than 49% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $1,829 a month. 82.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Olive Branch | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $290,000 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $1,829 | $820 |
| Median household income | $100,606 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.3% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Olive Branch
| People | Olive Branch | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.4% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.4% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 83.3% |
Weather in Olive Branch
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 59.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.5 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 71 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olive Branch since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 27, 1994 about 7.9 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 132 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 3, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 71 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 7, 2006.
Severe weather in DeSoto County since 1996
DeSoto County has been included in 16 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 DeSoto County
DeSoto County had 72,666 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,687 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Olive Branch itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Olive Branch
15 public schools with 10,607 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEWISBURG HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,286 | 16.7 |
| OLIVE BRANCH HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,077 | 15.2 |
| PLEASANT HILL ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 1,075 | 13.8 |
| CENTER HILL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,054 | 16.0 |
| CENTER HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 789 | 14.3 |
| CENTER HILL MIDDLE | 6-8 | 768 | 17.1 |
| OLIVE BRANCH MIDDLE | 6-8 | 714 | 15.2 |
| OVERPARK ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 645 | 14.0 |
| LEWISBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 2-3 | 603 | 15.9 |
| LEWISBURG INTERMEDIATE | 4-5 | 587 | 14.7 |
| LEWISBURG PRIMARY | PK-1 | 579 | 12.1 |
| OLIVE BRANCH ELEM | PK-1 | 512 | 11.6 |
Towns near Olive Branch
- Southaven, MS7.7 mi · 54,648 people · home $236,300
- Germantown, TN9.3 mi · 41,333 people · home $470,800
- Collierville, TN10.4 mi · 51,324 people · home $485,900
- Hernando, MS11.3 mi · 17,138 people · home $315,900
- Horn Lake, MS11.8 mi · 26,736 people · home $171,400
- Memphis, TN12.8 mi · 633,104 people · home $169,000
- Bartlett, TN19.3 mi · 57,786 people · home $310,400
- Lakeland, TN22.2 mi · 13,904 people · home $388,900
Olive Branch questions
Is Olive Branch, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Olive Branch scores better for retirees than 23% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 39%. 13.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Olive Branch?
The median owner-occupied home in Olive Branch is valued at $290,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,606, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,829 a month.
What is the weather like in Olive Branch?
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.5 inches of snow.
Does Olive Branch get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olive Branch since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 27, 1994. 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)