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Florence vs Cleary

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (28.8× in Florence) and homeowners (+12.3 pts renters in Florence).

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Florence, MSKnown for its schoolsMississippi · 4,696 people
C ×
Cleary, MSOne of the healthiest townsMississippi · 2,295 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

FlorenceKnown for its schools
Schools#15 for schools in MSof 92 towns Housing$255K typical home29% above the MS typical home Health59% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Florence →
ClearyOne of the healthiest towns
Health71% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Cleary →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Jobs per worker28.8×
Florence is more of a job hub
Florence 1.44Cleary 0.05
Homeowners+12.3 pts renters
Florence has more renters
Cleary 82%Florence 69.7%
Typical home built13 yrs
Cleary’s homes are older
Florence 1999Cleary 1986
Size2×
Florence is the bigger place
Florence 4,696Cleary 2,295
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $480 more a month in Florence

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Florence$1,470/mo
Typical home $255K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.66% · or rent about $923/mo · Housing →
Cleary$1,000/mo
Typical home $166K (Census) · tax rate 0.92% · or rent about $891/mo · Housing →

The difference: $480 a month, about $5,700 a year, between Florence and Cleary.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Where they are

Florence and Cleary share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

FlorenceClearyFlorenceCleary
Florence ↔ Cleary4.3 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
36 Cleary residents work in Florence (5% of its workers)
Work & commute in Cleary →
Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Mississippi ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
A+FlorenceBetter than 95% of districts in the state –ClearyNot graded
Health
C+FlorenceHealthier than 41% of U.S. towns CClearyHealthier than 29% of U.S. towns
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
FlorenceCleary
Snow a year1″1″
January low37°F37°F
July high92°F92°F
Growing season (days)245d245d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)69th59th
Outdoors & history
FlorenceCleary
Trails1 mi—
Conserved land0.9%—
Archive photos6—
Famous people born here4—
Community
FlorenceCleary
Library hours a week42 hrs—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

FlorenceCleary
People
Population 4,696Highest 2,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +10.4%Highest +9.3%Lowest
Median age 35.4±5.4Lowest 8% below MS 37.3±7.1Highest 3% below MS
Cleary and Florence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 30.7%±9.4Highest MS: 23.3% 25.4%±6.9Lowest MS: 23.3%
Florence and Cleary are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 10.7%±4Lowest MS: 17.2% 25.7%±13.4Highest MS: 17.2%
Cleary and Florence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 21.8%Lowest MS: 25.1% 27.3%Highest MS: 25.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.9%±3.2Lowest MS: 6.1% 10.6%±6.4Highest MS: 6.1%
Cleary and Florence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $86,308±$17k 53% above MS —
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $230,800±$14kHighest 36% above MS $166,400±$142kLowest about the MS average
Florence and Cleary are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $923±$592Highest 3% below MS $891±$475Lowest 7% below MS
Florence and Cleary are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,523 25% above MS $1,523 25% above MS
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 58.9%±52.3Lowest MS: 51.3% 85.3%±28.8Highest MS: 51.3%
Cleary and Florence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 6.7%Lowest MS: 18.9% 15.3%Highest MS: 18.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 69.7%Lowest MS: 70% 82%Highest MS: 70%
Typical home builtmedian year 1999Highest 13 yrs newer than MS 1986Lowest same as MS
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 32 minLowest 23% above MS 32 minHighest 25% above MS
Work from home 4.2%±3.5Highest MS: 5.9% 3.9%±5.2Lowest MS: 5.9%
Florence and Cleary are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 5.1%Highest 0.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 12.3 mi 12.3 mi
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.44Highest 0.05Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Jackson (25%)Jackson (28%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Cleary5% work in Florence
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.9%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.7 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 23.8Highest 19.8Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #15 of 92 in MS—
School district Rankin County School District—
High school in town Florence High School—
Students per teacherat that high school 13.4 —
Mississippi average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Florence neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Florence’s Town Square.

Cleary neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Cleary’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Florence

R
+ Compare
Richland7,346 people · $126K homes

Towns like Florence

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Fulton4,576 people · $159K homes
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Carthage4,866 people · $155K homes
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Iuka3,110 people · $125K homes
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Waveland7,062 people · $219K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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