The Town FilesWater Valley, Mississippi
City in Yalobusha County · population 3,380 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $135,500
- Household income
- $42,684
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 32.0
Water Valley is a city of 3,380 people in Yalobusha County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $135,500, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more walkable than 80% of Mississippi towns, better transit than 80% of Mississippi towns, hipper than 76% of Mississippi towns.
How Water Valley 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 Water Valley is worth $135,500, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $42,684, which is more affordable than 30% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $606 a month. 48.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Water Valley | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $135,500 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $606 | $820 |
| Median household income | $42,684 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 48.8% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.4% | — |
Who lives in Water Valley
| People | Water Valley | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.1% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.9% | 83.3% |
Weather in Water Valley
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 29.7°F. About 58.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 76 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Water Valley since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on February 21, 1971 about 3.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 27, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 24, 2024.
Severe weather in Yalobusha County since 1996
Yalobusha County has been included in 20 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 |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
| April 16, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4536: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Yalobusha County
Yalobusha County had 2,657 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,381 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Water Valley itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Water Valley
2 public schools with 1,024 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVIDSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 624 | 15.2 |
| WATER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 400 | 11.8 |
Towns near Water Valley
- Oxford, MS14.1 mi · 25,416 people · home $385,700
- University, MS15.0 mi · 4,696 people · home —
- Batesville, MS20.1 mi · 7,523 people · home $222,400
- Grenada, MS28.3 mi · 12,700 people · home $145,600
Water Valley questions
Is Water Valley, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Water Valley scores better for retirees than 31% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 33%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.0).
How much does a house cost in Water Valley?
The median owner-occupied home in Water Valley is valued at $135,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,684, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $606 a month.
What is the weather like in Water Valley?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 29.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Water Valley get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Water Valley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on February 21, 1971. 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)