Hattiesburg, MS: Local News, Events & Neighbors

Hattiesburg is a city in the U.S. state of Mississippi, located primarily in Forrest County (where it is the county seat and most populous city) and extending west into Lamar County. The city population was 48,730 in 2020, making it the 5th most populous city in Mississippi. Hattiesburg is the principal city of the Hattiesburg Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses Covington, Forrest, Lamar, and Perry counties. The city is the anchor of the Pine Belt region. Founded in 1882 by civil engineer William H. Hardy, Hattiesburg was named in honor of Hardy's wife Hattie. The town was incorporated two years later with a population of 400. Development of the interior of Mississippi took pla…

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Hattiesburg ranks

All →

#9Shortest commute in MS #7Most trails in MS #16Most educated in MS All MS rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code39401, 39402, 39403

Area code601

Living in Hattiesburg

Housing in Hattiesburg

$221K▲ 3% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Hattiesburg home is worth about $221,000, up 3% in a year, 12% above the Mississippi typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Hattiesburg

D

Safety Grade D

Hattiesburg reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 89% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Hattiesburg 2.6

Mississippi 2.2

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Hattiesburg 35.8

Mississippi 13.1

U.S. 15.5

Natural hazards: ModerateMostly inland flooding · higher than 54% of U.S. communitiesDetails →

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Hattiesburg

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 21% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 59% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Mississippi

8better than MS·8worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 16 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▲ 4 close Habits all close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 1▼ 4 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

5.5%Fewer adults who have had cancerMS 7.6% · better 6%Fewer adults with heart diseaseMS 7.5% · better 17.2%More adults without reliable transportationMS 11.9% · worse

Care nearby

Merit Health WesleyHattiesburg · 3 mi · ER

Minor Care ClinicHattiesburg · 1.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

2 hospitals · 1 health center in Hattiesburg →

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Hattiesburg · CMS · HRSAHealth in Hattiesburg →

Schools in Hattiesburg

All Hattiesburg schools →

C⁺

School Grade C+

The public schools Hattiesburg’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 57% of Mississippi’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Hattiesburg’s schools compare in MS →

DistrictHattiesburgSchools13

Thames Elementary C+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 619 students Rowan Elementary B-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 425 students Woodley Elementary BElementary · Grades PK–5 · 422 students Grace Christian Elementary C+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 367 students Hawkins Elementary CElementary · Grades PK–5 · 283 students Earl Travillion Attendance Center CElementary · Grades PK–8 · 261 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MS. Ratings are from neighbors.