The Town FilesWest Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Community in Lamar County · population 6,006 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $213,700
- Household income
- $39,366
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 46
- Median age
- 28.8
West Hattiesburg is a community of 6,006 people in Lamar County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $213,700, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of Mississippi towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Mississippi towns, more upscale than 85% of Mississippi towns.
How West Hattiesburg 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 West Hattiesburg is worth $213,700, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 5.4 times the median household income of $39,366, which is more affordable than 2% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $978 a month. 42.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Hattiesburg | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $213,700 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $978 | $820 |
| Median household income | $39,366 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 42.3% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.9% | — |
Who lives in West Hattiesburg
| People | West Hattiesburg | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.8 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.6% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 33.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.6% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 38.5% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.8% | 83.3% |
Weather in West Hattiesburg
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 37.8°F. About 64.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 32 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Hattiesburg since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on February 10, 2013 about 0.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 151 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 79 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 18, 1996.
Severe weather in Lamar County since 1996
Lamar County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4922: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 Lamar County
Lamar County had 20,129 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,276 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in West Hattiesburg itself the ACS puts it at 11.4%.
Towns near West Hattiesburg
- Hattiesburg, MS3.5 mi · 48,730 people · home $165,900
- Petal, MS8.8 mi · 11,010 people · home $174,900
- Ellisville, MS22.2 mi · 4,652 people · home $99,500
- Columbia, MS26.3 mi · 5,864 people · home $131,700
- Laurel, MS29.6 mi · 17,161 people · home $125,800
West Hattiesburg questions
Is West Hattiesburg, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Hattiesburg scores better for retirees than 16% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 6%. 10.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.8).
How much does a house cost in West Hattiesburg?
The median owner-occupied home in West Hattiesburg is valued at $213,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,366, so homes cost about 5.4 times income. Median rent is $978 a month.
What is the weather like in West Hattiesburg?
July highs average 91.2°F and January lows 37.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 64.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does West Hattiesburg get tornadoes?
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Hattiesburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on February 10, 2013. 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)