The Town FilesCleveland, Mississippi
City in Bolivar County · population 11,199 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $159,300
- Household income
- $44,074
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 43
- Median age
- 35.7
Cleveland is a city of 11,199 people in Bolivar County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $159,300, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of Mississippi towns, better for young professionals than 89% of Mississippi towns, more walkable than 87% of Mississippi towns.
How Cleveland 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 Cleveland is worth $159,300, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $44,074, which is more affordable than 16% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $943 a month. 66.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cleveland | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,300 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $943 | $820 |
| Median household income | $44,074 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 66.8% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Cleveland
| People | Cleveland | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.8% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.3% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 2.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 0.7% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 16.7 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 83.3% |
Weather in Cleveland
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 33.2°F. About 59.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 93 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 50 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cleveland since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 24, 2001 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 16, 2023.
Severe weather in Bolivar County since 1996
Bolivar 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 |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
| April 16, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4536: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Bolivar County
Bolivar County had 10,569 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,457 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Cleveland itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Cleveland
8 public schools with 2,160 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLEVELAND CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 816 | 17.4 |
| CLEVELAND CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 408 | 13.6 |
| D.M. SMITH ELEMENTARY | 3-6 | 257 | 12.9 |
| NAILOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 251 | 12.0 |
| PARKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 243 | 12.2 |
| PEARMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 1-6 | 185 | 13.2 |
| ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL | 5-12 | — | — |
| CLEVELAND VOC TECH COMPLEX | 8-12 | — | — |
Towns near Cleveland
- Ruleville, MS10.3 mi · 2,642 people · home $85,000
- Indianola, MS21.0 mi · 9,646 people · home $108,800
- Leland, MS25.2 mi · 3,988 people · home $109,700
Cleveland questions
Is Cleveland, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cleveland scores better for retirees than 23% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 9%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Cleveland?
The median owner-occupied home in Cleveland is valued at $159,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,074, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $943 a month.
What is the weather like in Cleveland?
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 33.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Cleveland get tornadoes?
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cleveland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 24, 2001. 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)