What stands out worked out from the figures below

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Picayune has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).

Nicholson has the most affordable homes ($97k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing townOutdoorsyWalkable streets

Measure	Picayune	Nicholson
People
Population	11,900Highest	3,146Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.3%Highest	-8.4%Lowest
Median age	41.8±2.3Highest 8% above MS	33.9±10.7Lowest 12% below MS
	Picayune and Nicholson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.8%±3.7Highest MS: 23.3%	23.5%±6.7Lowest MS: 23.3%
	Picayune and Nicholson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3.1Highest MS: 17.2%	13.8%±4.9Lowest MS: 17.2%
	Picayune and Nicholson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.2%Highest MS: 25.1%	7.3%Lowest MS: 25.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.7Highest MS: 6.1%	3.5%±3.2Lowest MS: 6.1%
	Picayune and Nicholson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$41,213±$8kLowest 27% below MS	$50,114±$20kHighest 11% below MS
	Nicholson and Picayune are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$157,100±$15kHighest 7% below MS	$97,400±$77kLowest 43% below MS
	Picayune and Nicholson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$931±$95Highest about the MS average	$872±$53Lowest 9% below MS
	Picayune and Nicholson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,302Highest 7% above MS	$752Lowest 38% below MS
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.5%±9.5Lowest MS: 51.3%	47.9%±25.6Highest MS: 51.3%
	Nicholson and Picayune are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.6%Lowest MS: 18.9%	25.4%Highest MS: 18.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.8%Lowest MS: 70%	63%Highest MS: 70%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 10 yrs older than MS	1995Highest 9 yrs newer than MS
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 25% above MS	28 minLowest 10% above MS
Work from home	5.9%±2.9Lowest MS: 5.9%	7.6%±8.1Highest MS: 5.9%
	Nicholson and Picayune are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#50 of 92 in MS	#63 of 92 in MS
School district	Picayune School District	Picayune School District
High school in town	Picayune Memorial High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	15.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MS average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.