Pearl grades B− overall, 21st of 99 graded towns in Mississippi, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. Its public schools beat 89% of Mississippi towns on state tests and graduation. Its lowest everyday mark is in health: residents are less healthy than 62% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. A typical home there costs about $212K, 3.4 years of the Jackson metro’s $62K median household income. Pearl's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 91% of U.S. towns. Pearl’s July high is 92°F, close to Mississippi’s towns (91°F) and above U.S. towns (85°F). The biggest park or preserve is City Center Park, at 66 acres.

StrongestASchools

What makes Pearl stand out

Where Pearl beats most towns.

Pearl Public Schools

School	Grades	Students
Pearl Lower Elementary	PK–1	763
Northside Elementary	2–3	665
Pearl Upper School	4–5	608

SchoolsA

#16 of the 101 Mississippi towns we grade for schools

NCES · EDFacts.

How Pearl grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Mississippi), ordered by how far Pearl is from typical.

How grading works

SchoolsAOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →HealthCrossgates River Oaks Hospital 3.5 miles awayC⁺Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.7 of 20; 2.6% of households have no car; 1.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC⁺Open →Cost of livingC⁺Open →Jobs & income12,944 jobs based hereB⁻Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors4% conserved landCOpen →History4 notable people born hereDOpen →Civic life2.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market24 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 36.4–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Pearl Mississippi Community Center, 2009

Pearl’s story

161 years in pictures

Census counts: 18,602 in 1980, 27,115 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 1973 and 5 maps from 1905 on.

1865Pearl is settled

Explore the history →

Getting set up

Moving to Pearl: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Pearl, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerEntergy Mississippi13.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterCity of Pearl water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpCity CompactorTown’s haulerTown site

SchoolsPearl Public School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

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.gov

Who runs elections hereRankin County RegistrarRankin County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2023

ZIP code3920839208 100%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 Pearl.

Pearl is healthier than towns with similar incomes and trades workers with Jackson and other neighbors, but it has a long record of flood insurance claims.

SchoolsA

For schools, Pearl earns an A

Its public schools are run by the Pearl Public Schools. Three of its 8 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

89%of MS districts it outscoresASchool Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Pearl Jr High SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8	Grades 6–8	944	B⁺
Pearl High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	1,278	A⁻
Pearl Upper SchoolTop results in townGrades 4–5	Grades 4–5	608	A⁻

Full pagePearl’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsPearl Public Schools Vs. the neighborsAhead of 1 of its 4 graded neighbors Every school8 schools · Pearl Jr High School Questions“Are Pearl’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within MS on state tests and graduation

OutdoorsC

Pearl has set aside 4.3% of its land for conservation

4.8 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves.

#38for trails in MS

	Pearl	Mississippi towns	U.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile	0.2 miles per square mile	0.2	0.4
Conserved land	4.3%	2.8%	4.3%

4.3%

conserved · 699 of 16,335 acres

4.8 mi

of trails · 0.2 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. City Center	1 mi	53
2. City Center Park	0.5 mi	66
3. Bright Park	0.3 mi	15

Full pagePearl’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map4.8 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk1 miles of trail · City Center Conserved land4.3% conserved · 699 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Pearl?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Climate

Pearl has mild winters and hot summers

Pearl has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Pearl’s January low is 36°F.

1″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter38–60°

Spring53–77°

Summer70–91°

Fall53–78°

Nov 14

typical first frost

Mar 14

typical last frost

+0.6°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pagePearl’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 92°, January lows 36°Rain & snow1″ of snow a winter · 58 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingBoth heating and cooling Then and now+0.6° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commuteJobs & income grade B⁻

About one in seven working residents works right in Pearl

Pearl has about as many jobs (12,944) as working residents, but only 1,558 people both live and work here.

Most working residents leave Pearl for work: only 14% work in town. 12% of residents live below the poverty line in Pearl. The top destinations are Jackson (28%), Flowood (11%) and Ridgeland (7%).

14%work in town

	Pearl	Mississippi towns	U.S. towns
Below the poverty line	12%	21%	9.6%
Working residents who work in town	14%	20%	8%
Median household income	$62,000	$50,000	$80,000
Work from home	7.2%	5.3%	11%

Where working residents work

In Pearl14%

Jackson28%

Flowood11%

Ridgeland7%

Brandon5%

7 mi

median commute distance

12,944

jobs based in Pearl

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

C+

Walkability grade: more walkable than 43% of U.S. towns

Full pagePearl’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here12,944 jobs based here · Balanced Where people work14% work in Pearl Commute times24 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 7 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

HealthC⁺

For health, Pearl earns a C+

Against the 9,331 U.S. towns with household incomes like Pearl’s, it is healthier than 57%, so its C+ isn’t only a matter of income. Within Mississippi it is healthier than 66% of the 101 graded towns: much of Mississippi scores lower on these measures.

31% of Pearl adults get no exercise outside work. Pearl beats the Mississippi average on 10 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 41% of Pearl adults have high blood pressure.

38%healthier than U.S. townsC⁺Health Grade

	Pearl	Mississippi towns	U.S. towns
Get no exercise (CDC PLACES)	31%	36%	25%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)	41%	45%	35%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)	13%	16%	12%
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	40%	39%	36%

31 measures vs. Mississippi

10 better21 too close to call0 worse

What stands out	Pearl	MS
Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth	14.3%	18.5%
Fewer adults who have had a stroke	3.6%	4.5%

Crossgates River Oaks Hospital

3.5 mi away · emergency room

2 of 3

care shortages: primary care, mental health

66th

percentile among MS towns

Full pagePearl’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore binge drinkers Hospitals & doctors nearby3.5 miles to an ER · Crossgates River Oaks Hospital How adults are doingFewer adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than MS on 10 of 31

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C

Pearl faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding

183 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 19 properties have flooded more than once.

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 62% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 183 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Pearl.

62risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingTornadoesHail

183

paid flood claims since 1979

federal disasters paid out here

Full pagePearl’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesHigh risk Flood claims183 paid flood claims · Since 1979 Past disasters4 federal disasters · Paid out in Pearl Get ready3.7 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Safety

Crime reported in Pearl

Pearl's reported crime rate is well below Mississippi's. The property crime rate in Pearl is 6.5 per 1,000 residents. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.

	Pearl	Mississippi towns	U.S. towns
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	6.5 per 1,000 residents	17.3	9.9
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	0.8 per 1,000 residents	2.3	1.6

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Pearl0.8

Mississippi2.2

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Pearl6.5

Mississippi13.1

U.S.15.5

violent crimes reported in 2025

186

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pagePearl’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type0.8 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsCrime over the years Vs. the neighbors4 bordering towns Questions“Is Pearl, MS safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Who lives here

More young adults than Mississippi overall

Adults 18 to 34 are 27% of residents (22% statewide). Pearl has grown 6.7% since 2020, to 28,864 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 28% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 25% across Mississippi.

36.4median age · MS 38.6

	Pearl	Mississippi towns	U.S. towns
Aged 65 or older	14%	17%	18%
Median age	36.4 years	37 years	40.5 years
Under 18	21%	24%	22%

PearlMississippiUnited States

MSU.S.

Ages · share of residents

18%

Education · adults 25 and older

No diploma11%

High school25%

Some college23%

Associate’s13%

Bachelor’s17%

Graduate11%

Women and men · all residents

51% women, 49% men

That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.8 points. Across Mississippi, 51.5% of residents are women. Median age: women 38.0, men 34.6.

Ages and education in Pearl
	Pearl	MS	U.S.
Under 10	12.3%	12.1%	11.6%
10 to 17	8.9%	11.2%	10.3%
18 to 24	9.1%	9.8%	9.1%
25 to 34	17.9%	12.6%	13.7%
35 to 44	14.1%	12.6%	13.2%
45 to 54	11.3%	12%	12.2%
55 to 64	12%	12.6%	12.7%
65 to 74	8.8%	10.4%	10.2%
75 and older	5.6%	6.8%	7%
No diploma	10.9%	12.9%	10.4%
High school	25.4%	29.9%	26%
Some college	23.1%	21.2%	19.1%
Associate’s	12.5%	10.9%	8.8%
Bachelor’s	17.1%	15.3%	21.6%
Graduate	11%	9.9%	14.1%

Full pagePearl by the numbersOpen the page

Ages36.4 median age · 14% are 65 or older Schooling28% have a four-year degree Homes62% own their home · Homeowners Income$62K a year · Median household income

Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates

HousingCost of living grade C⁺

For cost of living, Pearl earns a C+

Home values rose 27% in five years, to about $212K, against 11% across Mississippi.

Typical home values rose 4.6% in the year to September 2026.

$212KZillow home value

Typical home value

Pearl$212K

Mississippi$195K

Market temperature

days on market

99.6%

sale-to-list price

+4.6%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in May

Full pagePearl’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 4.6% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 3.4 years of income Rents$1,175 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsAhead of 2 of its 4 graded neighbors

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Nearby attractions

Natchez Trace Parkway and 8 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Pearl. Close and well known come first.

All 13 attractions →

11 mi ParkwayNatchez Trace Parkway8.0M visitors a year

6 mi Stadium & arenaMississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium

8 mi National MonumentMedgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument61K visitors a year

25 mi National Military ParkVicksburg National Military Park410K visitors a year 3 mi MuseumMississippi Musicians Hall of Fame

5 mi MuseumMississippi Civil Rights Museum

Sources: 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 Pearl

20pages on Pearl

The big questions

SchoolsABeat 89% of MS districts · 8 schools Safety0.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC⁺Better than MS on 10 of 31 CDC measures Cost of livingC⁺$212K typical home · up 4.6% in a year Work & commuteB⁻$62K median household income · 12,944 jobs here Natural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 62% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsC5 mi of trails · 4% conserved land PlacesAttractions13 nearby · Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame 3 mi LibraryDPearl Public Library CollegesBelhaven University is 5.5 mi away

The story

HistoryDSettled 1865 Famous people4 born in Pearl Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 149 residents Climate92° summer highs · 1″ of snow

Day to day

News8 recent stories about Pearl WeatherHandbookZIP code 39208, 39288 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

6 within 15 miles of the center of Pearl

Belhaven UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Jackson5.5 mi$30,250 tuition Millsaps CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Jackson6.2 mi$44,680 tuition Jackson State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Jackson6.9 mi$8,965 in-state tuition

About 7 of every 100 Pearl residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Mississippi.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Famous people from Pearl

4 notable people were born in Pearl.

See all 4 →

Eric WashingtonAmerican basketball player · born 1974

Justin JenkinsAmerican football player · born 1980

Ray RogersAmerican politician · 1931–2020

George KershAmerican distance runner · born 1968

About Pearl

City in Mississippi, United States

Official town website ↗

Pearl is a city located in Rankin County, Mississippi, United States, on the east side of the Pearl River across from the state capital Jackson. The population was 27,115 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Jackson, Mississippi metropolitan area. Pearl is the most populous city in Rankin County, and the 12th most populous city in the state. The city includes commercial, industrial, educational, and recreational areas, including Outlets of Mississippi, West Rankin Industrial Park, the Rankin Campus of Hinds Community College, and Trustmark Park.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)