The Town FilesAlgoma, Mississippi
Town in Pontotoc County · population 705 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $186,500
- Household income
- $58,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 36.7
Algoma is a town of 705 people in Pontotoc County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $186,500, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for families than 96% of Mississippi towns, more of a college town than 87% of Mississippi towns, quieter than 74% of Mississippi towns.
How Algoma ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Algoma is worth $186,500, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $58,125, which is more affordable than 30% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $864 a month. 89.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Algoma | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $186,500 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $864 | $820 |
| Median household income | $58,125 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.4% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Algoma
| People | Algoma | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.4% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.6% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.7% | 83.3% |
Weather in Algoma
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 31.4°F. About 60.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Algoma since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 1, 2023 about 2.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 18 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 7, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 9, 2024.
Severe weather in Pontotoc County since 1996
Pontotoc County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4528: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Pontotoc County
Pontotoc County had 11,759 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,725 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Algoma itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Towns near Algoma
- Pontotoc, MS5.2 mi · 5,640 people · home $155,800
- New Houlka, MS9.9 mi · 698 people · home $85,100
- Thaxton, MS11.4 mi · 692 people · home $231,500
- Ecru, MS11.7 mi · 901 people · home $196,700
- Sherman, MS16.9 mi · 600 people · home $158,900
- Verona, MS18.2 mi · 2,792 people · home $118,300
- Tupelo, MS18.6 mi · 37,923 people · home $212,800
- Houston, MS19.7 mi · 3,797 people · home $122,800
Algoma questions
Is Algoma, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Algoma scores better for retirees than 26% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 74%. 15.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Algoma?
The median owner-occupied home in Algoma is valued at $186,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,125, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $864 a month.
What is the weather like in Algoma?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 31.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Algoma get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Algoma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 1, 2023. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)