The Town FilesPhiladelphia, Mississippi
City in Neshoba County · population 7,118 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $97,300
- Household income
- $50,788
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 45
- Median age
- 36.7
Philadelphia is a city of 7,118 people in Neshoba County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $97,300, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks hipper than 94% of Mississippi towns, better for retirees than 88% of Mississippi towns, more vibrant than 85% of Mississippi towns.
- #4 in The 21 Best Small Towns to Retire in Mississippi
- #4 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Mississippi
- #8 in 16 Small Towns in Mississippi With the Cheapest Homes
- #12 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #12 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #18 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Mississippi
How Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia is worth $97,300, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $50,788, which is more affordable than 90% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $791 a month. 70.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Philadelphia | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $97,300 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $791 | $820 |
| Median household income | $50,788 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.0% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.5% | — |
Who lives in Philadelphia
| People | Philadelphia | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.9% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.6% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 83.3% |
Weather in Philadelphia
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
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Philadelphia since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on April 27, 2011 about 1.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 46 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 13, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on April 22, 2005.
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 Philadelphia itself the ACS puts it at 8%.
Public schools in Philadelphia
5 public schools with 3,858 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NESHOBA CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 1,466 | 13.8 |
| NESHOBA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 956 | 14.7 |
| NESHOBA CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 667 | 13.6 |
| PHILADELPHIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 431 | 11.3 |
| PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 338 | 9.7 |
Towns near Philadelphia
- Pearl River, MS7.1 mi · 3,822 people · home $61,200
- Carthage, MS24.0 mi · 4,901 people · home $154,800
- Louisville, MS24.3 mi · 6,072 people · home $136,600
Philadelphia questions
Is Philadelphia, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Philadelphia scores better for retirees than 88% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 55%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Philadelphia?
The median owner-occupied home in Philadelphia is valued at $97,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,788, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $791 a month.
What is the weather like in Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia get tornadoes?
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Philadelphia 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)