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ShrimpboatsOcean Springs, #1 on this list · Photo: Zach123abc · CC BY-SA 3.0
Mississippi rankings · Outdoors

Best towns for the outdoors in Mississippi

Ocean Springs ranks first on outdoors among Mississippi’s 101 towns of 2,500+; 2 of the 101 grade A− or better on outdoors nationally.

The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. How grades work

#1

Ocean Springs

Jackson County · 18,993 people
A−

Outdoors grade, better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #12 of 99 in MS

#2

Cleveland

Bolivar County · 10,138 people
A−

Outdoors grade, better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #98 of 99 in MS

#3

Greenwood

Leflore County · 13,429 people
B+

Outdoors grade, better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #94 of 99 in MS

All 101 towns

Outdoors grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 2 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

101 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1Ocean SpringsJackson County · 18,993 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #12 of 99
2ClevelandBolivar County · 10,138 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #98 of 99
3GreenwoodLeflore County · 13,429 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #94 of 99
4MeridianLauderdale County · 33,370 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #80 of 99
5LucedaleGeorge County · 3,232 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #33 of 99
6OxfordLafayette County · 26,773 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #26 of 99
7RidgelandMadison County · 24,750 peopleBbetter than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #18 of 99
8Yazoo CityYazoo County · 9,867 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #86 of 99
9GreenvilleWashington County · 26,530 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #95 of 99
10Bay St. LouisHancock County · 10,634 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #46 of 99
11AmoryMonroe County · 6,386 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #64 of 99
12FlowoodRankin County · 11,003 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #23 of 99
13LelandWashington County · 3,555 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #96 of 99
14Crystal SpringsCopiah County · 4,629 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #39 of 99
15PascagoulaJackson County · 21,409 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #79 of 99
16KosciuskoAttala County · 6,722 peopleBbetter than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #50 of 99
17WavelandHancock County · 7,042 peopleB−better than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #38 of 99
18HattiesburgForrest County · 48,802 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #68 of 99
19TupeloLee County · 38,087 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #47 of 99
20HazlehurstCopiah County · 3,435 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #75 of 99
21PicayunePearl River County · 12,019 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #85 of 99
22GautierJackson County · 19,069 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #66 of 99
23BiloxiHarrison County · 48,516 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #52 of 99
24JacksonHinds County · 141,196 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #82 of 99
25ForestScott County · 5,433 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #78 of 99
26Mississippi State College campusunincorporated, Oktibbeha County · 4,655 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
27AberdeenMonroe County · 4,799 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #45 of 99
28Moss PointJackson County · 11,743 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #89 of 99
29GulfportHarrison County · 76,506 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #59 of 99
30Horn LakeDeSoto County · 26,741 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #42 of 99
31DiamondheadHancock County · 9,441 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #25 of 99
32LaurelJones County · 17,662 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #83 of 99
33University College campusunincorporated, Lafayette County · 5,315 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
34StarkvilleOktibbeha County · 25,754 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #69 of 99
35LouisvilleWinston County · 5,921 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #56 of 99
36ClarksdaleCoahoma County · 13,643 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #99 of 99
37Water ValleyYalobusha County · 3,414 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #54 of 99
38ClintonHinds County · 26,640 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #8 of 99
39WigginsStone County · 4,316 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #65 of 99
40CantonMadison County · 10,873 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #77 of 99
41MageeSimpson County · 3,904 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #44 of 99
42New AlbanyUnion County · 7,756 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #36 of 99
43CorinthAlcorn County · 14,345 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #62 of 99
44BrandonRankin County · 26,122 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #3 of 99
45BatesvillePanola County · 7,325 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #90 of 99
46West PointClay County · 9,743 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #97 of 99
47PearlRankin County · 28,864 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #21 of 99
48IndianolaSunflower County · 8,637 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #91 of 99
49NatchezAdams County · 14,880 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #88 of 99
50MadisonMadison County · 28,575 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #2 of 99
51SenatobiaTate County · 8,473 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #55 of 99
52VicksburgWarren County · 19,830 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #81 of 99
53PhiladelphiaNeshoba County · 6,858 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #40 of 99
54PetalForrest County · 11,694 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #6 of 99
55SouthavenDeSoto County · 57,819 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #31 of 99
56WaynesboroWayne County · 4,495 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #87 of 99
57PontotocPontotoc County · 6,156 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #63 of 99
58GrenadaGrenada County · 12,088 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #76 of 99
59SaltilloLee County · 5,060 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #22 of 99
60McCombPike County · 11,697 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #93 of 99
61LeakesvilleGreene County · 3,732 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #51 of 99
62MortonScott County · 3,694 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #58 of 99
63West Hattiesburgunincorporated, Lamar County · 6,715 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #60 of 99
64HernandoDeSoto County · 18,824 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #5 of 99
65HoustonChickasaw County · 3,670 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #72 of 99
66ColumbusLowndes County · 22,792 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #92 of 99
67BrookhavenLincoln County · 11,646 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #67 of 99
68BoonevillePrentiss County · 9,257 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #32 of 99
69EllisvilleJones County · 4,473 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #49 of 99
70NewtonNewton County · 3,040 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #43 of 99
71Holly SpringsMarshall County · 6,402 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #73 of 99
72RipleyTippah County · 5,377 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #35 of 99
73ColumbiaMarion County · 6,525 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #57 of 99
74St. Martinunincorporated, Jackson County · 8,139 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #34 of 99
75RichlandRankin County · 7,630 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #11 of 99
76CarthageLeake County · 4,864 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #74 of 99
77FlorenceRankin County · 4,816 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #7 of 99
78FultonItawamba County · 4,640 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #16 of 99
79Pass ChristianHarrison County · 6,459 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #24 of 99
80ByramHinds County · 12,707 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #37 of 99
81GluckstadtMadison County · 3,500 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #4 of 99
82Olive BranchDeSoto County · 47,563 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #13 of 99
83Gulf Hillsunincorporated, Jackson County · 8,451 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #29 of 99
84Vancleaveunincorporated, Jackson County · 5,078 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #15 of 99
85Gulf Park Estatesunincorporated, Jackson County · 6,264 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #9 of 99
86WinonaMontgomery County · 3,795 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #71 of 99
87Nicholsonunincorporated, Pearl River County · 3,146 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #70 of 99
88Bridgetownunincorporated, DeSoto County · 3,195 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #1 of 99
89D'IbervilleHarrison County · 13,557 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #53 of 99
90Long BeachHarrison County · 17,309 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #17 of 99
91IukaTishomingo County · 3,105 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #20 of 99
92Hide-A-Way Lakeunincorporated, Pearl River County · 2,569 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #28 of 99
93Pearl Riverunincorporated, Neshoba County · 4,047 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #27 of 99
94Escatawpaunincorporated, Jackson County · 3,494 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #84 of 99
95PoplarvillePearl River County · 2,918 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #14 of 99
96New Hopeunincorporated, Lowndes County · 3,952 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #10 of 99
97Latimerunincorporated, Jackson County · 6,756 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #41 of 99
98BaldwynPrentiss County · 3,104 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #48 of 99
99Beechwoodunincorporated, Warren County · 4,168 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #30 of 99
T100GuntownLee County · 2,616 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B · #19 of 99
T100VeronaLee County · 2,713 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C− · #61 of 99
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Which Mississippi town is best for the outdoors?

Ocean Springs (Jackson County) ranks first on outdoors among 101 towns, with an A−; Cleveland and Greenwood follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a outdoors grade (101 in Mississippi). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Mississippi page.

Go deeper

More Mississippi lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Mississippi rankings →
Best places to live99 towns · #1 BridgetownBest small towns58 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 VeronaMost 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
Other states

Best towns for the outdoors in other states

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