The Town FilesBrandon, Mississippi
City in Rankin County · population 25,138 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $278,900
- Household income
- $92,783
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 68
- Median age
- 40.6
Brandon is a city of 25,138 people in Rankin County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $278,900, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more upscale than 98% of Mississippi towns, better for families than 93% of Mississippi towns, more of a college town than 92% of Mississippi towns.
How Brandon 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 Brandon is worth $278,900, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $92,783, which is more affordable than 45% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $1,382 a month. 78.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brandon | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $278,900 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $1,382 | $820 |
| Median household income | $92,783 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.3% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1996 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Brandon
| People | Brandon | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.3% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.5% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 27.6 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 83.3% |
Weather in Brandon
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 36.6°F. About 57.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.0 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 40 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
68 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brandon since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 18 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on March 3, 1966 about 9.0 miles from the town center and killed 57. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 69 deaths and 718 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 19, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 90 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 14, 1996.
Severe weather in Rankin County since 1996
Rankin County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4727: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes. |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Rankin County
Rankin County had 67,059 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,290 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Brandon itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Brandon
9 public schools with 6,693 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,645 | 15.7 |
| BRANDON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,153 | 12.7 |
| ROUSE ELEMENTARY | PK-1 | 819 | 12.0 |
| STONEBRIDGE ELEMENTARY | 2-3 | 745 | 14.9 |
| BRANDON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 4-5 | 725 | 14.2 |
| NORTHSHORE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 565 | 13.1 |
| OAKDALE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 541 | 13.2 |
| HIGHLAND BLUFF ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 500 | 11.6 |
| RANKIN COUNTY LEARNING CENTER | K-12 | — | — |
Towns near Brandon
- Pearl, MS5.9 mi · 27,115 people · home $182,500
- Flowood, MS6.3 mi · 10,202 people · home $342,200
- Richland, MS10.4 mi · 7,137 people · home $125,800
- Florence, MS11.4 mi · 4,572 people · home $230,800
- Jackson, MS13.2 mi · 153,701 people · home $111,700
- Ridgeland, MS14.2 mi · 24,340 people · home $275,200
- Madison, MS15.8 mi · 27,747 people · home $352,900
- Gluckstadt, MS18.3 mi · 3,208 people · home $316,600
Brandon questions
Is Brandon, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brandon scores better for retirees than 73% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 42%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Brandon?
The median owner-occupied home in Brandon is valued at $278,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,783, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,382 a month.
What is the weather like in Brandon?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 36.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.0 inches of snow.
Does Brandon get tornadoes?
68 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brandon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on March 3, 1966. 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)