States › Mississippi › West Hattiesburg

Is West Hattiesburg, MS expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 26 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$91248% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$42,456about $3,538/month · 51% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$213,70036% lower than U.S. average

Rent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.0 years of household income. Most households rent (58%), so there are plenty of rental options.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $36,480 a year. That is $18 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Mississippi cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Mississippi. It is number 13 of 66 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

West Hattiesburg
$912
Holly Springs
$813
Latimer
$1,181
Columbia
$848
Kosciusko
$682
Amory
$878
Philadelphia
$832

How much do households earn in West Hattiesburg?

Under $25k
25.2%
$25k–50k
25.6%
$50k–100k
22.5%
$100k–150k
12.5%
$150k+
3.7%

Share of households by yearly income. 16.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in West Hattiesburg

SizeWest HattiesburgU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,109$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,046$1,509

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is West Hattiesburg overall?

Everyday prices in Mississippi overall are 13% below the U.S. average (index 87.0, U.S. = 100).

Housing
56
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
78
Other services
96
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for West Hattiesburg, so the Mississippi figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in West Hattiesburg

🏛️ Property tax$1,268a year · 0.59% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$197a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in West Hattiesburg

Commute to work23.5 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree30.6%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home42.3%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line38.5%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment11.4%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Hattiesburg?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $571 a month less.

Renting
$912
Owning
$1,483

Owning assumes a typical $213,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $21,370 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in West Hattiesburg, MS?

Renting in West Hattiesburg costs a median of about $912 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Mississippi median is $1,187.

How much do I need to make to live in West Hattiesburg?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $36,480 a year, or $18 an hour at a full-time job.

Is West Hattiesburg cheap or expensive?

West Hattiesburg is rated OK: rent takes 25.8% of the typical household income of $42,456. It ranks 13th cheapest of 66 Mississippi cities we track.

How much are property taxes in West Hattiesburg?

The median homeowner in West Hattiesburg pays $1,268 a year in property taxes, about 0.59% of the median home value.

Is West Hattiesburg more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Mississippi are 13% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in West Hattiesburg?

The median home value in West Hattiesburg is $213,700, about 5.0 times the typical yearly household income.

6,715 people live in West Hattiesburg. Numbers are typical (middle) values.