Bridgetown
unincorporated, DeSoto County · 3,195 peopleStrongest: schools A, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability D−
BCost–SafetyASchoolsA−HealthA−JobsD−WalkB−Hazards
Mississippi rankings · 2026
Best small towns in Mississippi
Bridgetown ranks first of Mississippi’s 58 graded small towns (2,500–9,999 residents), with an A: schools (A) and jobs & income (A−) are its strongest grades; walkability (D−) is its lowest. 2 of the 58 (3%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns.
The overall grade, sorted: cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk, from Census, FBI, state, CDC, EPA and FEMA data. How grades work
A
Gluckstadt
Madison County · 3,500 peopleStrongest: schools A, health A·lowest: cost of living C−
C−Cost–SafetyASchoolsAHealthA−JobsC+WalkBHazards
#7Florence
Rankin County · 4,816 peopleStrongest: schools A, walkability A−·lowest: hazard risk C
B−Cost–SafetyASchoolsC+HealthBJobsA−WalkCHazards
Where they are: Two of the top 10 are in Rankin County.
All 58 small towns
Overall score, highest first. The score (0–100) blends the seven livability grades and sets the order; the letter places that score among every U.S. town of 2,500+, and A+ is the top 5%, so neighbors on the list often share a letter. Each town links to its page, where the grade sheet shows every subject. The rank is the town’s place among all 99 Mississippi towns.
58 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownScoreGradeWhat drives it
1Bridgetownunincorporated, DeSoto County · 3,195 people69.5top 7.6%AStrongest: schools A, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability D−
4GluckstadtMadison County · 3,500 people63.8top 19.6%A−Strongest: schools A, health A·lowest: cost of living C−
7FlorenceRankin County · 4,816 people60.9top 27.2%B+Strongest: schools A, walkability A−·lowest: hazard risk C
9Gulf Park Estatesunincorporated, Jackson County · 6,264 people60.3top 28.7%B+Strongest: schools A+, jobs & income A−·lowest: hazard risk D−
10New Hopeunincorporated, Lowndes County · 3,952 people60.0top 29.4%B+Strongest: schools A, jobs & income A−·lowest: hazard risk C
11RichlandRankin County · 7,630 people59.4top 30.8%B+Strongest: schools A, cost of living B·lowest: hazard risk C
14PoplarvillePearl River County · 2,918 people57.7top 35.6%BStrongest: schools A, cost of living A·lowest: hazard risk D
15Vancleaveunincorporated, Jackson County · 5,078 people56.3top 39.4%BStrongest: schools A, cost of living B·lowest: walkability D−
16FultonItawamba County · 4,640 people55.3top 41.8%BStrongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B+·lowest: jobs & income D
19GuntownLee County · 2,616 people54.9top 43.0%BStrongest: safety B+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability D
20IukaTishomingo County · 3,105 people52.9top 48.6%B−Strongest: cost of living A, schools A−·lowest: health C−
22SaltilloLee County · 5,060 people52.8top 48.8%B−Strongest: jobs & income B+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability C−
24Pass ChristianHarrison County · 6,459 people52.0bottom 48.9%B−Strongest: schools A, safety B+·lowest: hazard risk D−
25DiamondheadHancock County · 9,441 people51.9bottom 48.6%B−Strongest: health B+, schools B+·lowest: hazard risk D
27Pearl Riverunincorporated, Neshoba County · 4,047 people49.8bottom 43.2%C+Strongest: cost of living A+, schools A·lowest: health D−
28Hide-A-Way Lakeunincorporated, Pearl River County · 2,569 people49.7bottom 42.9%C+Strongest: cost of living A−, schools B·lowest: hazard risk D−
29Gulf Hillsunincorporated, Jackson County · 8,451 people48.8bottom 40.3%C+Strongest: schools A, health B·lowest: hazard risk D
30Beechwoodunincorporated, Warren County · 4,168 people48.5bottom 39.4%C+Strongest: cost of living B+, jobs & income B·lowest: walkability D
32BoonevillePrentiss County · 9,257 people48.1bottom 38.2%C+Strongest: cost of living A+, schools B+·lowest: safety D
33LucedaleGeorge County · 3,232 people46.5bottom 34.0%CStrongest: cost of living A−, schools A−·lowest: jobs & income D−
34St. Martinunincorporated, Jackson County · 8,139 people45.8bottom 32.4%CStrongest: schools A, cost of living C+·lowest: hazard risk D
35RipleyTippah County · 5,377 people45.5bottom 31.4%CStrongest: schools A−, cost of living A−·lowest: jobs & income D
36New AlbanyUnion County · 7,756 people45.5bottom 31.4%CStrongest: schools B+, hazard risk B·lowest: health D
38WavelandHancock County · 7,042 people43.7bottom 27.2%CStrongest: schools A−, jobs & income B−·lowest: hazard risk D
39Crystal SpringsCopiah County · 4,629 people43.3bottom 26.1%CStrongest: cost of living A−, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D−
40PhiladelphiaNeshoba County · 6,858 people42.9bottom 25.3%CStrongest: cost of living A−, schools A−·lowest: health D−
41Latimerunincorporated, Jackson County · 6,756 people42.0bottom 23.3%C−Strongest: schools A, cost of living B·lowest: hazard risk D
43NewtonNewton County · 3,040 people41.8bottom 22.7%C−Strongest: cost of living A+, schools B·lowest: health D−
44MageeSimpson County · 3,904 people41.4bottom 22.0%C−Strongest: cost of living A−, walkability B+·lowest: health D−
45AberdeenMonroe County · 4,799 people41.4bottom 22.0%C−Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B+·lowest: health D−
48BaldwynPrentiss County · 3,104 people40.8bottom 20.6%C−Strongest: cost of living A, hazard risk B·lowest: health D−
49EllisvilleJones County · 4,473 people40.8bottom 20.5%C−Strongest: walkability B+, schools B+·lowest: health D
50KosciuskoAttala County · 6,722 people40.0bottom 19.0%C−Strongest: walkability B+, cost of living B·lowest: health D−
51LeakesvilleGreene County · 3,732 people39.8bottom 18.5%C−Strongest: cost of living A, schools B−·lowest: hazard risk D
54Water ValleyYalobusha County · 3,414 people39.4bottom 17.9%C−Strongest: cost of living A, schools B·lowest: health D
55SenatobiaTate County · 8,473 people39.3bottom 17.7%C−Strongest: cost of living B, hazard risk B−·lowest: schools C
56LouisvilleWinston County · 5,921 people39.0bottom 17.1%C−Strongest: cost of living A−, schools B·lowest: jobs & income D−
57ColumbiaMarion County · 6,525 people38.9bottom 16.9%C−Strongest: schools A, walkability B·lowest: health D−
58MortonScott County · 3,694 people38.7bottom 16.4%C−Strongest: cost of living B+, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D−
60West Hattiesburgunincorporated, Lamar County · 6,715 people38.6bottom 16.2%C−Strongest: schools A−, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income D
61VeronaLee County · 2,713 people38.4bottom 16.0%C−Strongest: hazard risk A−, cost of living B·lowest: health D−
63PontotocPontotoc County · 6,156 people37.7bottom 14.7%DStrongest: schools B+, hazard risk B·lowest: jobs & income C−
64AmoryMonroe County · 6,386 people37.6bottom 14.7%DStrongest: schools A−, walkability B·lowest: health D
65WigginsStone County · 4,316 people37.5bottom 14.4%DStrongest: schools A−, cost of living B+·lowest: jobs & income D−
70Nicholsonunincorporated, Pearl River County · 3,146 people34.9bottom 10.4%DStrongest: cost of living A−, walkability B·lowest: health D−
71WinonaMontgomery County · 3,795 people34.9bottom 10.4%DStrongest: walkability A−, schools B−·lowest: health D−
72HoustonChickasaw County · 3,670 people34.8bottom 10.4%DStrongest: schools A, hazard risk B·lowest: health D−
73Holly SpringsMarshall County · 6,402 people34.7bottom 10.2%DStrongest: cost of living A−, walkability B·lowest: health D
74CarthageLeake County · 4,864 people33.8bottom 9.2%DStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living B·lowest: health D−
75HazlehurstCopiah County · 3,435 people33.7bottom 9.1%DStrongest: cost of living A, hazard risk B−·lowest: health D
78ForestScott County · 5,433 people33.4bottom 8.6%DStrongest: walkability B+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D−
84Escatawpaunincorporated, Jackson County · 3,494 people28.6bottom 3.8%D−Strongest: cost of living A−, schools C−·lowest: hazard risk D−
86Yazoo CityYazoo County · 9,867 people28.1bottom 3.3%D−Strongest: walkability B+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D−
87WaynesboroWayne County · 4,495 people27.5bottom 2.9%D−Strongest: schools B−, cost of living C+·lowest: health D−
90BatesvillePanola County · 7,325 people26.1bottom 2.1%D−Strongest: walkability B, schools B·lowest: health D
91IndianolaSunflower County · 8,637 people25.2bottom 1.7%D−Strongest: cost of living C+, walkability C+·lowest: jobs & income D−
96LelandWashington County · 3,555 people19.9bottom 0.4%D−Strongest: hazard risk C+, cost of living C+·lowest: schools D−
97West PointClay County · 9,743 people19.2bottom 0.3%D−Strongest: hazard risk C+, cost of living C·lowest: health D−
Method
How this list is made
Each town’s overall grade blends seven livability grades: cost of living (weight 18), safety (18), schools (16), health (14), jobs & income (12), walkability (8) and hazard risk (4). A town needs 2,500+ residents and three of the first four. Letters are national, so an A here means the same as an A in any state; the list is the same towns in the same order, ranked within Mississippi. Towns without their own FBI figures are graded on the rest and their page says why.
Data years: crime 2023–2025 (FBI), Census ACS 2020–2024, CDC PLACES 2025, state school tests. How grades work
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the best small town in Mississippi?
Among 58 graded towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents, Bridgetown (DeSoto County) ranks first, with an A; schools (A) and jobs & income (A−) are its strongest grades; walkability (D−) is its lowest. Gluckstadt and Florence follow.
How are these towns ranked?
By the overall grade, which blends seven livability grades from public data. The letter is national; the rank is within Mississippi. The full method is on How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents with an overall grade (58 in Mississippi). 86 smaller places have subject grades only; 2 towns of 2,500+ lack enough data for a grade; Larger towns are on the best places to live list. Every town is on the Mississippi page.
Go deeper
All Mississippi rankings →More Mississippi lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live99 towns · #1 BridgetownMost affordable towns99 towns · #1 Pearl RiverSafest towns45 towns · #1 MadisonTowns with the best schools101 towns · #1 PetalHealthiest towns101 towns · #1 MadisonBest towns for jobs & income99 towns · #1 MadisonMost walkable towns101 towns · #1 BiloxiTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk101 towns · #1 VeronaBest towns for the outdoors101 towns · #1 Ocean SpringsMost historic towns100 towns · #1 NatchezTowns with the most civic life85 towns · #1 WinonaTowns with the least snow27 towns · #1 BrandonDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns27 towns · #1 Holly SpringsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters102 towns · #1 PascagoulaDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers102 towns · #1 Ellisville and LaurelDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers102 towns · #1 Gulf Hills and 2 moreDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes99 towns · #1 BridgetownDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes99 towns · #1 Pearl RiverDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns89 towns · #1 Bay St. LouisDescribed, no letters
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