Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Water Valley gives you more for your money than most places: a typical home costs about $183K, 2.8 years of the Oxford area’s $65K median household income. It grades C− overall, 54th among Mississippi's 99 graded towns. The low prices come with trade-offs. Residents are less healthy than 92% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates, and its crime rate is higher than 89% of U.S. towns, with 15 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. Water Valley’s property crime rate is 30.7 per 1,000 residents, above both the Mississippi town median (16.5) and the median of U.S. towns (9.9). Only 11 of Mississippi’s 186 towns score higher on history. Water Valley's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 87% of U.S. towns.
Where Water Valley beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Mississippi), ordered by how far Water Valley is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 2,220 in 1880, 3,380 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1911 and 2 maps from 1954 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Water Valley, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Water Valley.
Water Valley is healthier than towns with similar incomes and has a longer frost-free season than most of the country, though not than most of Mississippi; it also reports property crime at about twice the Mississippi rate.
Against the 3,249 U.S. towns with household incomes like Water Valley’s, it is less healthy than 66%, so its D isn’t only a matter of income. Within Mississippi it is less healthy than 66% of the 101 graded towns: much of Mississippi scores lower on these measures.
51% of Water Valley adults have high blood pressure. Water Valley beats the Mississippi average on 1 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 13. 19% of Water Valley adults have diabetes.
| Water Valley | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 51% | 45% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 12% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 36% | 25% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 13% | 16% |
| What stands out | Water Valley | MS |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.5% | 79.7% |
| More adults with heart disease | 10.1% | 7.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by the Water Valley School District. Its two schools are below. The largest public high school is Water Valley High School, with 398 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 599 | B− |
| Water Valley High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 398 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MS on state tests and graduation
Property crime runs at 30.7 per 1,000 residents, about twice the Mississippi rate, most of it theft.
Water Valley’s violent crime rate is 4.4 per 1,000 residents. Water Valley reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 89% report less.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
1.2 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves.
| Water Valley | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 1.1% | 2.9% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. City Park | 0.2 mi | 3 |
| 2. Railroad Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
The Water Valley weather station records that the frost-free season runs about 219 days: longer than most of the country, but shorter than 86% of Mississippi places with climate records. January nights average 32.3°: milder than most of the country, but colder than 85% of Mississippi places with climate records; July afternoons average 91.2°.
Water Valley has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Water Valley is 91°F. About 1 inches of snow falls in a winter.
| Water Valley | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 91°F | 91°F | 85°F |
| January low | 32°F | 36°F | 22°F |
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Only 48.8% of households own their home, against 70% across Mississippi.
Adults 35 to 64 are 29% of residents (37% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 29% of residents (22% statewide). Only 10 of the 101 Mississippi towns we compare have a lower median age than Water Valley. 23% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 25% across Mississippi.
| Water Valley | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32 years | 37 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 19% | 17% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 23% | 25% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 23% | 24% | 22% |
57% women, 43% men
About 76 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±4.7 points). Across Mississippi, 51.5% of residents are women.
| Water Valley | MS | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 15.8% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7.5% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 12% | 9.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 16.5% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.4% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 6.8% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.1% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.4% | 10.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.4% | 6.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 17.7% | 12.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 31.4% | 29.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 21.8% | 21.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 6% | 10.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 15.4% | 15.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 7.8% | 9.9% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,400, single groups can be off by several points
Most working residents leave Water Valley for work: only 18% work in town. 27% of residents live below the poverty line in Water Valley. Jobs based in Water Valley fell to 1,055 in 2023, 84 fewer than in 2013.
| Water Valley | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 27% | 21% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $43,000 | $50,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 18% | 20% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 57% of U.S. communities. Since 1982, 31 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Water Valley.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
The typical value, about $183K, is 7% below its January 2022 peak.
Only 3 of the 96 Mississippi towns we compare have a lower median rent than Water Valley. The typical Water Valley home is worth about $183,000, up 3.3% in a year, 6% below the Mississippi typical home.
| Water Valley | Mississippi towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 49% | 62% | 73% |
| Median rent | $606 a month | $909 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
1 within 15 miles of the center of Water Valley
About 9 of every 100 Water Valley residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Mississippi.
3 places in Water Valley on the National Register of Historic Places.
6 notable people were born in Water Valley.
City in Mississippi, United States
Water Valley is a city in Yalobusha County, Mississippi. As of the 2020 census, Water Valley had a population of 3,380. It is the larger of two county seats in the rural county and at one time was the center of railroad shops. Water Valley is served by the Water Valley School District.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Water Valley grades C− overall, better than 18% of U.S. towns and #54 of 99 in Mississippi. It grades D for health, D for safety and B for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.
6 notable people were born here, including James A. Ford and Bryant Mix.
