The Town FilesPearl River, Mississippi
Community in Neshoba County · population 3,822 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $61,200
- Household income
- $50,922
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 48
- Median age
- 32.7
Pearl River is a community of 3,822 people in Neshoba County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $61,200, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better transit than 91% of Mississippi towns, more of a college town than 89% of Mississippi towns, better for families than 83% of Mississippi towns.
- #1 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Mississippi
- #1 in 16 Small Towns in Mississippi With the Cheapest Homes
- #8 in The 20 Best Small Towns for Families in Mississippi
- #32 in The 50 Most Affordable Small Towns in America
- #35 in The 50 Most Affordable Places in America
- #38 in 50 Small Towns in America With the Cheapest Homes
How Pearl River 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 Pearl River is worth $61,200, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $50,922, which is more affordable than 100% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $571 a month. 84.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pearl River | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $61,200 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $571 | $820 |
| Median household income | $50,922 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.3% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Pearl River
| People | Pearl River | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.4% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.6% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 16.5 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.7% | 83.3% |
Weather in Pearl River
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 33.5°F. About 57.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 77 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pearl River since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on April 27, 2011 about 7.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 112 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 25, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 29, 2020.
Severe weather in Neshoba County since 1996
Neshoba County has been included in 25 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 |
| June 10, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4790: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4727: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes. |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Neshoba County
Neshoba County had 12,095 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,469 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Pearl River itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Towns near Pearl River
- Philadelphia, MS7.1 mi · 7,118 people · home $97,300
- Carthage, MS17.4 mi · 4,901 people · home $154,800
- Louisville, MS25.0 mi · 6,072 people · home $136,600
- Kosciusko, MS27.1 mi · 7,114 people · home $112,400
Pearl River questions
Is Pearl River, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pearl River scores better for retirees than 5% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 25%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.7).
How much does a house cost in Pearl River?
The median owner-occupied home in Pearl River is valued at $61,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,922, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $571 a month.
What is the weather like in Pearl River?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 33.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Pearl River get tornadoes?
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pearl River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 on April 27, 2011. 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)