Central Avenue at Main Street, 2013
Petal’s story
46 years in pictures
Census counts: 8,476 in 1980, 11,010 in 2020. The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 2007 and 3 maps from 1964 on.
- 1980Petal is settled
PetalMS
A town of 11,694, settled in 1980. Public schools that outperform most of Mississippi.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Cayla.campPR · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
11,694
2025 Census estimate · +5.8% since 2020
Typical home
$220K
+2.6% in a year
Household income
$75K
median
Median age
37.0
years
Jobs based here
3,688
Balanced
TownGrade
A−
#6 of 99 in MS
What should you know before moving to Petal?
Petal's standout: its public schools are among the best in Mississippi. Overall it grades A−, 6th among Mississippi's 99 graded towns. It reports less crime per resident than 85% of U.S. towns. Among 57 Mississippi towns, just 4 have a lower violent crime rate than Petal. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 79% of U.S. towns. Among 57 Mississippi towns, just 5 have a lower property crime rate than Petal.
What makes Petal stand out
Where Petal beats most towns.
Petal School District
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Petal Primary School | PK–2 | 1,016 |
| Petal Elementary 3-4 | 3–4 | 636 |
| Dynamic Dyslexia Design | K–6 | 161 |
SchoolsA+
Beats 99% of MS districts
#1 of the 101 Mississippi towns we grade for schools
NCES · EDFacts.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Petal0.3
Mississippi2.2
U.S.3.3
SafetyA
86% less violent crime than MS
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
How Petal grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Mississippi), ordered by how far Petal is from typical.
SchoolsA+Open →SafetyAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.8 of 20; 2.7% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →HealthForrest General Hospital 6.3 miles awayC+Open →Cost of livingBOpen →Jobs & income$75K median household incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors5 miles of trails; 0% conserved landCOpen →History3 notable people born hereDOpen →Civic life2.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
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 Petal: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Petal, and how to reach them.
PowerMississippi Power15.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Petal water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Petal’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 hereForrest County RegistrarForrest County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2023
ZIP code3946539465 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 Petal.
Petal has schools in the top 5% of Mississippi, trades workers with Hattiesburg and other neighbors and looks healthier within Mississippi than nationally.
SchoolsA+
Petal’s public schools rank among the best in Mississippi
Its A+ ranks #1 of the 101 Mississippi towns we grade for schools.
Its public schools are run by the Petal School District. Three of its 6 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Petal High School, with 1,324 students.
99%of MS districts it outscoresA+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petal Primary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–2 | Grades PK–2 | 1,016 | – |
| Petal High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,324 | A |
| Petal Elementary 3-4Top results in townGrades 3–4 | Grades 3–4 | 636 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MS on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsC
Conserved land covers 0.5% of Petal
In the comparison, Petal comes where Mississippi’s towns sit at 2.9% and U.S. towns at 4.3%. 4.5 miles of trail in 4 parks and preserves. The biggest place to walk is Petal River Park, 69 acres with 3.4 miles of trail.
#19for trails in MS
| Petal | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.5% | 2.9% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
0.5%
conserved · 56 of 11,020 acres
4.5 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Petal River Park | 3.4 mi | 69 |
| 2. Friendly Park | — | 44 |
| 3. Optimist Park | — | 12 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SafetyA
For safety, Petal earns an A
Violent crime is rare: 3 reported in 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 residents.
85%of U.S. towns report more crimeASafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Petal0.3
Mississippi2.2
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Petal4.7
Mississippi13.1
U.S.15.5
85th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
95th
percentile among MS towns
3
violent crimes reported in 2025
55
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Petal
Petal has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. At 92°F, Petal’s July high is near the Mississippi town median (91°F) and above the median of U.S. towns (85°F).
92°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter39–62°
Spring53–78°
Summer70–91°
Fall54–79°
Nov 15
typical first frost
Mar 8
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Petal
300 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 40 properties have flooded more than once.
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 67% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 300 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Petal.
67risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHurricanes
300
paid flood claims since 1979
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
About half of Petal’s working residents commute to Hattiesburg
Petal has about as many jobs (3,688) as working residents, but only 566 people both live and work here. Jobs based here grew from 2,221 in 2013 to 3,688.
Most working residents leave Petal for work: only 14% work in town. Since 2013, Petal has added 1,467 jobs, to 3,688 in 2023. 11% of residents live below the poverty line in Petal.
14%work in town
| Petal | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 11% | 21% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 5% | 5.4% | 11% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 14% | 20% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Petal14%
Hattiesburg45%
Laurel4%
Jackson2%
Gulfport1%
7 mi
median commute distance
3,688
jobs based in Petal
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 21% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthC+
Petal is less healthy than 61% of U.S. towns
Within Mississippi it is healthier than 67% of the 101 graded towns: much of Mississippi scores lower on these measures.
Petal beats the Mississippi average on 10 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 29% of Petal adults get no exercise outside work.
39%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Petal | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 36% | 25% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 45% | 35% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 42% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 12% |
31 measures vs. Mississippi
10 better21 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Petal | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 9% | 11.2% |
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 12.6% | 15.5% |
Forrest General Hospital
6.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
67th
percentile among MS towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade B
A typical Petal home is worth about $220K
The typical Petal home is worth about $220,000, up 2.6% in a year, 13% above the Mississippi typical home.
$220KZillow home value
| Petal | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 70% | 62% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,047 a month | $900 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Petal$220K
Mississippi$195K
+2.6%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
An age mix much like Mississippi’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Mississippi average. Petal has grown 5.8% since 2020, to 11,694 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.
37median age · MS 38.6
| Petal | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 25% | 24% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 15% | 17% | 18% |
| Median age | 37 years | 37 years | 40.5 years |
PetalMississippiUnited States
Ages · share of residents
14%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma8%
High school29%
Some college22%
Associate’s14%
Bachelor’s18%
Graduate10%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 88 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.9 points). Across Mississippi, 51.5% of residents are women.
| Petal | MS | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.7% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12.1% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.7% | 9.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.8% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.9% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 10.1% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.4% | 10.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.7% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 8.2% | 12.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 28.8% | 29.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 21.5% | 21.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 13.7% | 10.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 18.3% | 15.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 9.5% | 9.9% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Nearby attractions
All 6 attractions →Hattiesburg Zoo and 5 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Petal. Close and well known come first.
5 mi Zoo & aquariumHattiesburg Zoo
4 mi MuseumAfrican American Military History Museum
25 mi MuseumLauren Rogers Museum of Art
11 mi MuseumMississippi Armed Forces Museum50K visitors a year26 mi Zoo & aquariumCollins Zoo
6 mi GardenAll-American Rose Garden
4 mi MuseumAfrican American Military History Museum25 mi MuseumLauren Rogers Museum of Art11 mi MuseumMississippi Armed Forces Museum50K visitors a year26 mi Zoo & aquariumCollins Zoo6 mi GardenAll-American Rose GardenSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
African American Military History Museum: Woodlot, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lauren Rogers Museum of Art: Michlaovic, Public domain · Mississippi Armed Forces Museum: Woodlot, CC BY-SA 3.0 · All-American Rose Garden: Dudemanfellabra, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Petal
20pages on Petal
The big questions
SchoolsA+Beat 99% of MS districts · 6 schoolsSafetyA0.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC+Better than MS on 10 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingB$220K typical home · up 2.6% in a yearWork & commuteB−$75K median household income · 3,688 jobs hereNatural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 67% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Petal
William Carey UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Hattiesburg4.5 mi$15,480 tuitionUniversity of Southern MississippiUniversity or college · Public · Hattiesburg5.9 mi$9,998 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Petal residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Mississippi.
Famous people from Petal
3 notable people were born in Petal.
About Petal
City in Mississippi, United States
Petal is a city in Forrest County, Mississippi, along the Leaf River. It is part of the Hattiesburg, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 10,454 in the 2010 census, increasing to 11,010 in the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 17 sq mi
- Elevation
- 157 ft
- ZIP code
- 39465
- Area code
- 601
Petal’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Petal.
HattiesburgPetal
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MS rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petal | #6 | A− | B | A | A+ | C+ |
| Hattiesburg | #68 | D | C+ | D | B+ | C− |
Questions about Petal
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Petal, MS a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Petal grades A− overall, better than 77% of U.S. towns and #6 of 99 in Mississippi. It grades C+ for health, A for safety and A+ for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Petal, MS expensive?
That is 3.7 years of the area's median household income ($60,285 across the Hattiesburg, MS metro area). 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 Petal, MS known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Demarcus Evans and Tom Walters.