The Town FilesPicayune, Mississippi
City in Pearl River County · population 11,885 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,100
- Household income
- $41,213
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 41.8
Picayune is a city of 11,885 people in Pearl River County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $157,100, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more vibrant than 96% of Mississippi towns, more walkable than 88% of Mississippi towns, hipper than 78% of Mississippi towns.
How Picayune 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 Picayune is worth $157,100, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $41,213, which is more affordable than 13% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $931 a month. 58.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Picayune | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,100 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $931 | $820 |
| Median household income | $41,213 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 58.8% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Picayune
| People | Picayune | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.2% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.6% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 32.1 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.9% | 83.3% |
Weather in Picayune
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 37.8°F. About 66.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 71 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 31 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Picayune since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on December 25, 2012 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 31, 2005.
Severe weather in Pearl River County since 1996
Pearl River County has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Tropical Storm | DR-4930: Tropical Storm Arthur |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Pearl River County
Pearl River County had 11,629 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,138 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Picayune itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Picayune
12 public schools with 3,961 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PICAYUNE MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 960 | 17.1 |
| PICAYUNE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-8 | 488 | 15.7 |
| WEST SIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 419 | 15.5 |
| ROSELAND PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 368 | 14.2 |
| NICHOLSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 363 | 12.1 |
| WEST HANCOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 363 | 11.7 |
| SOUTH SIDE LOWER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 340 | 16.2 |
| SOUTH SIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-6 | 313 | 17.4 |
| EARLY HEAD START NICHOLSON | PK-PK | 196 | 11.5 |
| EARLY HEAD START ROSA STREET | PK-PK | 151 | 6.9 |
| CENTER FOR ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION | 7-12 | — | — |
| PMHS CAREER & TECHNOLOGY CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Picayune
- Nicholson, MS3.4 mi · 2,833 people · home $97,400
- Pearl River, LA12.0 mi · 2,565 people · home $235,200
- Slidell, LA18.0 mi · 28,781 people · home $217,700
- Bogalusa, LA20.3 mi · 10,659 people · home $97,600
- Lacombe, LA21.5 mi · 8,657 people · home $207,900
- Diamondhead, MS21.7 mi · 9,529 people · home $259,600
- Abita Springs, LA21.7 mi · 2,631 people · home $269,300
- Eden Isle, LA22.7 mi · 7,782 people · home $371,600
Picayune questions
Is Picayune, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Picayune scores better for retirees than 18% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 28%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Picayune?
The median owner-occupied home in Picayune is valued at $157,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,213, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $931 a month.
What is the weather like in Picayune?
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 37.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 66.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Picayune get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Picayune since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on December 25, 2012. 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)