The Town FilesStarkville, Mississippi
City in Oktibbeha County · population 24,360 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $299,900
- Household income
- $42,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 26.0
Starkville is a city of 24,360 people in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $299,900, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks hipper than 100% of Mississippi towns, better for young professionals than 99% of Mississippi towns, more vibrant than 97% of Mississippi towns.
How Starkville 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 Starkville is worth $299,900, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 7.1 times the median household income of $42,125, which is more affordable than 0% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $916 a month. 33.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Starkville | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $299,900 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $916 | $820 |
| Median household income | $42,125 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 33.9% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.6% | — |
Who lives in Starkville
| People | Starkville | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.0 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.3% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.5% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.7% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.8% | 83.3% |
Weather in Starkville
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 33.2°F. About 58.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 78 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Starkville since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on February 20, 1951 about 2.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 30 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 8, 2025.
Severe weather in Oktibbeha County since 1996
Oktibbeha County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, biological, severe storm.
| 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 Oktibbeha County
Oktibbeha County had 20,428 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,613 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Starkville itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Starkville
8 public schools with 4,686 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| STARKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,400 | 15.2 |
| HENDERSON/WARD-STEWART ELEMENTARY | 2-4 | 1,061 | 15.6 |
| SUDDUTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-1 | 891 | 13.9 |
| SOCSD/MSU PARTNERSHIP MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-7 | 692 | 12.6 |
| ARMSTRONG JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 8-8 | 371 | 11.2 |
| OVERSTREET ELEMENTARY | 5-5 | 271 | 10.8 |
| THE LEARNING CENTER ALTERNATIVE | 5-12 | — | — |
| MILLSAPS CAREER & TECH CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Starkville
- Mississippi State, MS2.2 mi · 4,968 people · home —
- West Point, MS13.9 mi · 10,105 people · home $153,900
- Columbus, MS24.4 mi · 24,084 people · home $125,700
- Louisville, MS26.9 mi · 6,072 people · home $136,600
- New Hope, MS27.9 mi · 3,161 people · home $238,200
- Macon, MS28.3 mi · 2,582 people · home $97,400
- Aberdeen, MS29.7 mi · 4,961 people · home $87,600
Starkville questions
Is Starkville, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Starkville scores better for retirees than 24% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 3%. 11.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 26.0).
How much does a house cost in Starkville?
The median owner-occupied home in Starkville is valued at $299,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,125, so homes cost about 7.1 times income. Median rent is $916 a month.
What is the weather like in Starkville?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 33.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Starkville get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Starkville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on February 20, 1951. 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)