Nice Detail, 2006
Florence’s story
125 years in pictures
Census counts: 260 in 1910, 4,572 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2006 and 3 maps from 1906 on.
- 1901Florence is settled
FlorenceMS
A town of 4,816, settled in 1901. Public schools that outperform most of Mississippi.
2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Roastedbeanz1 · CC BY 4.0
Population
4,816
2025 Census estimate · +5.4% since 2020
Typical home
$253K
+4.4% in a year
Household income
$86K
median
Median age
35.4
years
Jobs based here
2,716
Balanced
TownGrade
B+
#7 of 99 in MS
Is Florence a good place to live?
Florence grades B+ overall, ranked 7th of 99 in Mississippi, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. Its schools rank ahead of 92% of Mississippi towns and it is more walkable than 75% of U.S. towns. A typical home there costs about $253K, 4.1 years of the Jackson metro’s $62K median household income. Of the 57 Mississippi towns we compare, none has a lower property crime rate than Florence. The biggest park or preserve is Hemphill Park, at 37 acres. On history, just 14 of Mississippi’s 186 towns do worse.
What makes Florence stand out
Where Florence beats most towns.
Rankin County School District
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Steens Creek Elementary | PK–2 | 582 |
| Florence Elementary | 3–5 | 537 |
| Florence Middle School | 6–8 | 556 |
SchoolsA
#10 of the 101 Mississippi towns we grade for schools
NCES · EDFacts.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 75% of U.S. towns
13% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
A growing town
Florence has grown 16% since 2010
4,141 counted in 2010 and 4,572 in 2020; an estimated 4,816 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 5.4% since 2020, after 10.4% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Florence grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Mississippi), ordered by how far Florence is from typical.
SchoolsAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.5 of 20; 9.4% of households have no carA−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →HealthCrossgates River Oaks Hospital 10.3 miles awayC+Open →Jobs & income$86K median household income; 2,716 jobs based hereBOpen →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 1% conserved landC−Open →History3 notable people born hereD−Open →Civic life2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Florence: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Florence, and how to reach them.
PowerEntergy Mississippi13.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTown of Florence water system6 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Florence’s trash rules yet
Register to voteIn personMississippi has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereRankin County RegistrarRankin County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2023
ZIP codes39073, 3921839073 98% · 39218 2%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Florence.
Florence looks healthier within Mississippi than nationally and has home values climbing faster than Mississippi’s, but it has little public open land.
SchoolsA
For schools, Florence earns an A
Its public schools are run by the Rankin County School District. Three of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Florence High School, with 718 students.
92%of MS districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steens Creek ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–2 | Grades PK–2 | 582 | – |
| Florence High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 718 | B− |
| Florence ElementaryTop results in townGrades 3–5 | Grades 3–5 | 537 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MS on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade B−
For cost of living, Florence earns a B−
Home values rose 29% in five years, to about $253K, against 11% across Mississippi.
Typical home values rose 4.4% in the year to September 2026.
$253KZillow home value
Typical home value
Florence$253K
Mississippi$195K
+4.4%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Florence faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 69% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 38 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Florence.
69risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHail
38
paid flood claims since 1979
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Florence, expect mild winters and hot summers
Florence has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Florence’s July high is 92°F, close to Mississippi’s towns (91°F) and above U.S. towns (85°F).
1″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter38–60°
Spring53–77°
Summer69–91°
Fall53–78°
Nov 14
typical first frost
Mar 14
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More children than Mississippi overall
The median household earns $86,308, against $56,447 across Mississippi, one input to its B for jobs and income.
Children under 18 are 31% of residents (23% statewide); people 65 and older are 11% of residents (17% statewide). Florence has grown 5.4% since 2020, to 4,816 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. Florence’s median age is 35.4 years, against 37 years in Mississippi’s towns and 40.5 years across U.S. towns.
35.4median age · MS 38.6
| Florence | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 11% | 17% | 18% |
| Median age | 35.4 years | 37 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 22% | 25% | 29% |
FlorenceMississippiUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school34%
Some college26%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s13%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
47% women, 53% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.2 points. Across Mississippi, 51.5% of residents are women.
| Florence | MS | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.2% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 18.4% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8% | 9.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10.8% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.4% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 14.6% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10.8% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 7% | 10.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 3.7% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.6% | 12.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 34.1% | 29.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 26.3% | 21.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.2% | 10.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 12.9% | 15.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.9% | 9.9% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 4,800, single groups can be off by several points
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
With 1.4 jobs for every working resident, Florence draws in 2,619 commuters
Most working residents leave Florence for work: only 5% work in town. The average trip to work in Florence is 32 minutes. Among 99 Mississippi towns, just 8 have a higher median household income than Florence.
5%work in town
| Florence | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 32 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 21% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.1% | 20% | 8% |
| Median household income | $86,000 | $50,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Florence5%
Jackson25%
Flowood10%
Richland8%
Pearl7%
12 mi
median commute distance
2,716
jobs based in Florence
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 75% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Safety
Crime reported in Florence
Florence's reported crime rate is well below Mississippi's. Florence’s violent crime rate is 0.2 per 1,000 residents. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Florence0.2
Mississippi2.2
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Florence0.6
Mississippi13.1
U.S.15.5
1
violent crimes reported in 2025
3
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HealthC+
Residents of Florence are less healthy than 59% of U.S. towns
Within Mississippi it is healthier than 68% of the 101 graded towns: much of Mississippi scores lower on these measures.
Florence beats the Mississippi average on 10 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 17% of Florence adults binge drink. Only 6 of the 101 Mississippi towns we compare have a lower share of adults who had a checkup this year than Florence.
41%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Florence | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 13% | 16% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 36% | 25% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 45% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 16% | 12% |
31 measures vs. Mississippi
10 better19 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Florence | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 8% | 11.2% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 16.5% | 22.4% |
| More binge drinkers | 16.7% | 13.6% |
Crossgates River Oaks Hospital
10.3 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
68th
percentile among MS towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
OutdoorsC−
Florence has set aside 0.9% of its land for conservation
Just 46 of its 5,154 acres are conserved, so there is little public open land in Florence itself; its outdoors grade is C−.
0.7 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
0.9%conserved
| Florence | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.9% | 2.9% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
0.9%
conserved · 46 of 5,154 acres
0.7 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hemphill Park | 0.5 mi | 37 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 13 attractions →Natchez Trace Parkway and 8 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Florence. Close and well known come first.
17 mi ParkwayNatchez Trace Parkway8.0M visitors a year
13 mi Stadium & arenaMississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
14 mi National MonumentMedgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument61K visitors a year
26 mi National Military ParkVicksburg National Military Park410K visitors a year
11 mi MuseumMississippi Civil Rights Museum11 mi MuseumMississippi Musicians Hall of FameSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Natchez Trace Parkway: Carol M. Highsmith (1946–), Public domain · Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium: Jfurr1981 at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument: Jud McCranie, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Vicksburg National Military Park: Eoghanacht at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Mississippi Civil Rights Museum: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Florence
20pages on Florence
The big questions
SchoolsABeat 92% of MS districts · 5 schoolsSafety0.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC+Better than MS on 10 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$253K typical home · up 4.4% in a yearWork & commuteB$86K median household income · 2,716 jobs hereNatural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 69% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Florence
Jackson State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Jackson10.9 mi$8,965 in-state tuitionBelhaven UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Jackson11.6 mi$30,250 tuitionMillsaps CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Jackson12 mi$44,680 tuition
About 6 of every 100 Florence residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Mississippi.
Famous people from Florence
3 notable people were born in Florence.
.jpg){kind=link}
About Florence
City in Mississippi, US
Florence is a city in Rankin County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2020 census, Florence had a population of 4,572. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 8.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 312 ft
- ZIP code
- 39073
- Area code
- 601
Florence’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Florence.
ClearyRichlandFlorence
How the neighbors grade
Cleary has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Florence and Cleary report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Florence with a neighbor →
Questions about Florence
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Florence, MS a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Florence grades B+ overall, better than 73% of U.S. towns and #7 of 99 in Mississippi. It grades C+ for health and A for schools.
Is Florence, MS expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.
What is Florence, MS known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Tate Reeves and Rosetta A. Ferguson.