The Town FilesWaveland, Mississippi
City in Hancock County · population 7,210 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $218,900
- Household income
- $68,693
- Jan low / Jul high
- 42° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 51
- Median age
- 40.7
Waveland is a city of 7,210 people in Hancock County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $218,900, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Mississippi towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of Mississippi towns, more seaside character than 96% of Mississippi towns.
How Waveland 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 Waveland is worth $218,900, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $68,693, which is more affordable than 30% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $927 a month. 60.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waveland | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $218,900 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $927 | $820 |
| Median household income | $68,693 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 60.9% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 2003 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.3% | — |
Who lives in Waveland
| People | Waveland | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.7% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 11.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 33.0 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 83.3% |
Weather in Waveland
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 41.6°F. About 65.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 48 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 17 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
51 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waveland since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 19, 1980 about 0.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 25, 2010.
Severe weather in Hancock County since 1996
Hancock County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| June 10, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4790: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Hancock County
Hancock County had 14,399 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,168 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Waveland itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Waveland
1 public school with 329 students, about 10.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAVELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-1 | 329 | 10.6 |
Towns near Waveland
- Bay St. Louis, MS2.8 mi · 9,284 people · home $260,200
- Diamondhead, MS6.5 mi · 9,529 people · home $259,600
- Pass Christian, MS9.4 mi · 5,686 people · home $270,900
- Long Beach, MS14.4 mi · 16,780 people · home $215,200
- Gulfport, MS21.2 mi · 72,926 people · home $174,600
- Pearl River, LA21.9 mi · 2,565 people · home $235,200
- Nicholson, MS22.5 mi · 2,833 people · home $97,400
- Picayune, MS23.2 mi · 11,885 people · home $157,100
Waveland questions
Is Waveland, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waveland scores better for retirees than 64% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 59%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Waveland?
The median owner-occupied home in Waveland is valued at $218,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,693, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $927 a month.
What is the weather like in Waveland?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 41.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 65.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Waveland get tornadoes?
51 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waveland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 19, 1980. 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)