The 10 Safest Cities In Mississippi For 2024

The safest cities in Mississippi are Madison and Petal for 2024 using Saturday Night Science.

If you already live in Mississippi, consider yourself lucky. But if you're thinking about moving to this southwestern paradise, we suggest you take a look at the list of safest places to live in Mississippi for 2024.

How did we determine Mississippi's safest places? We consulted the FBI crime numbers for important factors like property and violent crimes per capita for every place with over 5,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 47 cities. This is also our tenth time ranking Mississippi's safest cities, so trust us when we say that anyone would be lucky to call one of these places home.

We want people to know where the safest schools and neighborhoods are located. And we wouldn't want anyone to get stuck in one of Mississippi's most dangerous places without knowing it.

It turned out Mississippi has safe places to live for every stage of life. Clinton is one of the safest places for college students, Brandon is safe for families, and Ridgeland for professionals.

So, where are these amazing places in Mississippi where crime is low? Read on.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table

Here are the 10 safest cities to live in Mississippi for 2024:

  1. Madison (Homes For Sale)
  2. Petal (Homes For Sale)
  3. Hernando (Homes For Sale)
  4. Brandon (Homes For Sale)
  5. Clinton (Homes For Sale)
  6. Long Beach (Homes For Sale)
  7. Waveland (Homes For Sale)
  8. Pass Christian (Homes For Sale)
  9. Richland (Homes For Sale)
  10. New Albany (Homes For Sale)
Safest Cities In Mississippi Map

What's the safest place to live in Mississippi for 2024? The safest place to live in The Magnolia State is Madison based on the state's most recent crime data.

Look at the list below for the top ten safest places in Mississippi. If you are still waiting to see your town there, head to the bottom for a complete list of places in Mississippi.

For more reading on safe places to live in and around Mississippi, check out:

The 10 Safest Cities In Mississippi For 2024

Madison, MS
Source: Wikipedia User Pmsyyz | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 27,674
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 46 (fourth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 581 (fourth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Madison: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
7.5
/10

Madison is the ideal destination when you're trying to find that true Mississippi, swampbilly feel with safe, small city vibes and big city pride. This is definitely one of the reasons it has held strong from last year to be our safest city in Mississippi for 2024.

This Madison County city is the kind of place where one can safely cruise the roads on ATVs, lawnmowers, and trucks with gun racks. It's also the kind of place where packages from Amazon won't get stolen from your front porch. But if they do, it was probably a gator. And take it from us, you should pick your battles.

Petal, MS
Source: City Of Petal

Population: 11,580
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 69 (sixth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 423 (second safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Petal: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
8
/10

Welcome to Petal, our number one safest city in Mississippi for 2024. It's so safe in this little Hattiesburg-burb, that the alligators are always showing their faces along the Leaf River at the same time every evening reminding the residents to get home before dark. Thanks gators!

Petal is known as 'The Friendly City'. So it is no surprise that they scored an 8/10 HomeSnacks snackability score with an emphasis on job availability and safety. They keep their city safe so you will want to move to their neck of the woods.

We're pretty sure the only crime being committed here is a 'Petal-ite' cheering for any NFL team other than the Saints.

Hernando, MS
Source: Wikipedia User Thomas R Machnitzki | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 17,622
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 90 (ninth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 641 (fifth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Hernando: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
8
/10

Hernando, DeSoto County's county seat, on Mississippi's northwestern border, is the third safest city in the state, with a low 16 incidents of violent crime, including no murders. The city also boasts just 113 property crimes, reflecting the effective protection of residents' assets.

Hernando's strategic location near U.S. Route 51 and Interstate 55 is critical to maintaining safety, a strong historical identity dating back to Hernando de Soto, a vigilant police force, and proactive community-oriented initiatives. These factors help safeguard Hernando's 17,622 residents, keeping crime below the national average.

Brandon, MS
Source: Wikipedia User Ditch Fisher | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 25,636
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 113 (12th safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 479 (third safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Brandon: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
7
/10

It might not be Jackson but this little city with a vibrant melting pot of swampbillies, Saint's fans, and cotton farmers, as well as five star restaurants, unforgettable summer festivals, and endless fun, is just as notable and just as safe. Probably why it's one of the most populous cities in Rankin County.

Brandon's gold star qualities like the non-existent number of crimes per 100,000 residents, their large number of educated residents, and their A+ social and economic infrastructure, is the reason it's our fourth safest city in Mississippi for 2024.

Clinton, MS
Source: Public domain

Population: 27,001
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 92 (tenth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,099 (sixth safest)
Murders: 1
Murders Per 100k: 3
More on Clinton: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
7
/10

Welcome to our fifth safest city in Mississippi: Clinton. This city with a little over 25,000 residents in Hinds County, should be called 'Mississippi's Best Kept Secret,' because all is crazy safe and super fine in the city where the hospitality never ends. We all know that people don't want to live in a city that is not welcoming and not safe.

Clinton's snackability rating is a whopping 7.5/10! Their number of amenities scored 8/10 and their education rating an 8.5/10! Scott has a strong sense of community with a big city focus. Check it out! We're pretty sure you will want to call it home.

Long Beach, MS
Source: Flickr User Dave Bezaire | CC BY-SA 2.0

Population: 16,944
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 47 (fifth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,552 (11th safest)
Murders: 1
Murders Per 100k: 5
More on Long Beach: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
7
/10

Nestled within Harrison County and a part of the Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area, Long Beach holds the sixth spot as the safest city in Mississippi. The city boasts rankings of fifth safest in violent crime and 11th safest in property crime, reflecting its commitment to safety and community well-being.

The "Radish Capital of the World," living in Long Beach is so safe, even the radishes feel secure - they never turnip unexpectedly.

Waveland, MS
Source: Public domain

Population: 6,920
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 72 (eighth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,459 (ninth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Waveland: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
5
/10

Waveland, the seventh safest city in Mississippi, maintains low violent crime rates, with the police effectively managing the town to a violent crime rate of 72/100k people per capita and a property crime rate of 1,459/100k people per capita.

Living in Waveland is like having a safety net of beach towels - a "shore" thing you'll feel secure. With a modest 6,920, Waveland is the eighth safest against violent offenses in Mississippi.

Pass Christian, MS
Source: Public domain

Population: 6,032
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 16 (second safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,287 (20th safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Pass Christian: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
5
/10

One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, and drum roll..our eighth safest city in Mississippi for 2024 is Pass Christian.

This little Mississippi gem scored a strong 6/10 on our snackability scale. They scored an 8/10 in terms of safety and an 8/10 for number of educated residents. I think it's safe to say they're the poster city for the rest of the state. And word on the street is that young professionals are starting to take notice and move Pass Christian's direction. So don't wait, because the word is out.

Richland, MS
Source: Wikipedia User Kevin magee | GFDL

Population: 7,245
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 138 (15th safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,394 (eighth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Richland: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
5
/10

Richland, the ninth safest city in Mississippi, prides itself on a 138/100k people violent crime rate that ranks 15th safest statewide and an absence of murders.

This tranquil city, part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area and home to roughly 7,245 people, has a low 1,532/100k people overall crime rate, securing the ninth safest spot for overall safety.

Safety in Richland is like a well-invested stock - it just keeps growing, and the only risk is feeling too secure.

New Albany, MS
Source: Public domain

Population: 7,645
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 26 (third safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,328 (21st safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on New Albany: Data | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
6
/10

New Albany, established in 1840 in Union County, has a deep-rooted history involving key events such as the Civil War and the advent of railroads, which shaped its development. This small Mississippi city's population of 7,645 enjoys one of the lowest violent crime rates, with 0 murders reported, earning it the title of the tenth safest place in the state.

Its remarkably low 26/100k people violent crimes per capita and 2,328/100k people property crime per rate underscore successful policing and safety measures embraced by both law enforcement and residents.

Methodology: How we calculated the safest cities in Mississippi for 2024

Safest Cities in Mississippi Graph

While there are surveys and public polls on what cities in Mississippi are the safest, we wanted to rely on something other than speculation and opinion. Instead, we looked at the hard numbers from the FBI's most recent crime report in Mississippi.

Specifically, we used Saturday Night Science to analyze the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, which summarizes the number of property and violent crimes in each city annually. We used two criteria:

  • Violent crimes per capita (murders, assaults, rapes, armed robberies)
  • Property crimes per capita (thefts, burglaries, motor vehicle thefts)

For example, there were 174 crimes committed in Madison, with a reported population of 27,674. That means the number of crimes per capita is 0.0063, which translates into a 1 in 159 chance of being the victim of a crime.

We only looked at Mississippi cities that have populations of more than 5,000. This filter left us with 47 of the biggest cities in Mississippi to rank.

We ranked each city for each criterion from 1 to 47 where 1 in any particular category is the safest.

Next, we averaged each place's two criteria to create a Safety Index. We crowned the place with the lowest overall Safety Score, "The Safest Place In Mississippi," with any ties going to the bigger city.

The safest city in Mississippi, based on our criteria, is Madison. The most dangerous city in Mississippi? Cleveland, where residents had a 1 in 17 chance of being the victim of a crime.

This article has been update for 2024. This report marks our tenth time ranking the safest places to live in Mississippi. All the data comes from the FBI's Crime In The USA 2022 report.

Best Places To Retire In Mississippi

Summary: The Safest Cities In The Magnolia State

Looking at the data, you can tell that Madison is as safe as they come in Mississippi, according to science and data.

But as most Mississippi residents would agree, almost every place here has its safe and not safe parts. So just make sure you're informed ahead of time.

The safest places in Mississippi are .

Here's a look at the most dangerous cities in Mississippi according to the data:

  1. Cleveland
  2. Laurel
  3. Corinth
For more reading, check out:

Where Are The 10 Safest Cities In Mississippi For 2024?

Rank City Population Violent Crimes Per 100k Property Crimes Per 100k Murders Per 100k Murders
1 Madison, MS 27,674 46 581 0 0
2 Petal, MS 11,580 69 423 0 0
3 Hernando, MS 17,622 90 641 0 0
4 Brandon, MS 25,636 113 479 0 0
5 Clinton, MS 27,001 92 1,099 3 1
6 Long Beach, MS 16,944 47 1,552 5 1
7 Waveland, MS 6,920 72 1,459 0 0
8 Pass Christian, MS 6,032 16 2,287 0 0
9 Richland, MS 7,245 138 1,394 0 0
10 New Albany, MS 7,645 26 2,328 0 0
11 Oxford, MS 26,975 129 1,634 7 2
12 Kosciusko, MS 6,955 158 1,524 14 1
13 Ocean Springs, MS 18,361 98 2,265 5 1
14 Byram, MS 12,299 235 1,178 0 0
15 Holly Springs, MS 6,488 354 323 30 2
16 Horn Lake, MS 26,729 149 2,095 22 6
17 Flowood, MS 10,518 209 1,578 0 0
18 Jackson, MS 163,297 0 4,014 44 72
19 Olive Branch, MS 40,651 314 1,857 4 2
20 Starkville, MS 24,720 153 2,495 0 0
21 Gautier, MS 18,992 326 2,190 15 3
22 Ridgeland, MS 23,896 359 1,937 4 1
23 Amory, MS 6,439 124 4,022 0 0
24 Southaven, MS 56,092 228 3,266 0 0
25 Bay St. Louis, MS 10,591 169 3,399 18 2
26 Laurel,, MS 18,317 169 3,706 16 3
27 Senatobia, MS 8,104 530 1,739 0 0
28 D'iberville, MS 14,234 70 5,156 0 0
29 Batesville, MS 7,238 345 2,832 0 0
30 Booneville, MS 8,676 265 4,391 0 0
31 Pontotoc, MS 5,771 450 3,292 0 0
32 Hattiesburg, MS 46,862 343 4,479 6 3
33 Tupelo, MS 37,534 386 4,116 7 3
34 Louisville, MS 5,963 989 2,465 0 0
35 Meridian, MS 36,878 512 3,535 35 13
36 Picayune, MS 11,710 649 2,954 0 0
37 West Point, MS 9,893 869 2,557 10 1
38 Forest, MS 5,262 760 2,565 19 1
39 Gulfport, MS 71,803 427 4,334 20 15
40 Brookhaven, MS 11,901 562 3,747 33 4
41 Pascagoula, MS 21,736 404 4,550 9 2
42 Biloxi, MS 46,317 390 5,108 10 5
43 Vicksburg, MS 20,381 505 4,489 14 3
44 Natchez, MS 14,497 669 4,407 34 5
45 Corinth, MS 14,216 485 5,120 28 4
46 Laurel, MS 17,066 615 4,570 29 5
47 Cleveland, MS 10,687 1,038 4,725 28 3

Breaking Down Crime In The Safest And Most Dangerous Cities In Mississippi

Safest Cities in Mississippi Breakdown

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn.

Safest Cities By State

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