The Town FilesRichland, Mississippi
City in Rankin County · population 7,137 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $125,800
- Household income
- $66,558
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 76
- Median age
- 36.3
Richland is a city of 7,137 people in Rankin County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $125,800, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better transit than 96% of Mississippi towns, better for retirees than 84% of Mississippi towns, better for young professionals than 77% of Mississippi towns.
- #3 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Mississippi
- #7 in The 21 Best Small Towns to Retire in Mississippi
- #12 in The 20 Best Small Towns for Families in Mississippi
- #18 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #18 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #20 in 24 Small Towns in Mississippi With the Mildest Winters
How Richland 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 Richland is worth $125,800, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $66,558, which is more affordable than 90% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $1,185 a month. 72.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Richland | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $125,800 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $1,185 | $820 |
| Median household income | $66,558 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 72.9% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Richland
| People | Richland | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 83.3% |
Weather in Richland
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 36.6°F. About 57.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.0 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 40 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
76 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richland since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 22 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on March 3, 1966 about 6.5 miles from the town center and killed 57. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 70 deaths and 718 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 140 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 31, 1996.
Severe weather in Rankin County since 1996
Rankin County has been included in 24 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 |
| August 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4727: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes. |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Rankin County
Rankin County had 67,059 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,290 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Richland itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Richland
3 public schools with 1,600 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHLAND HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 771 | 11.5 |
| RICHLAND UPPER ELEMENTARY | 3-6 | 469 | 13.4 |
| RICHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 360 | 10.9 |
Towns near Richland
- Pearl, MS4.9 mi · 27,115 people · home $182,500
- Florence, MS5.6 mi · 4,572 people · home $230,800
- Jackson, MS6.7 mi · 153,701 people · home $111,700
- Byram, MS7.9 mi · 12,666 people · home $206,600
- Flowood, MS8.9 mi · 10,202 people · home $342,200
- Brandon, MS10.4 mi · 25,138 people · home $278,900
- Ridgeland, MS13.4 mi · 24,340 people · home $275,200
- Clinton, MS13.7 mi · 28,100 people · home $225,800
Richland questions
Is Richland, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Richland scores better for retirees than 84% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 36%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Richland?
The median owner-occupied home in Richland is valued at $125,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,558, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $1,185 a month.
What is the weather like in Richland?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 36.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.0 inches of snow.
Does Richland get tornadoes?
76 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on March 3, 1966. 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)