The Town FilesColdwater, Mississippi
Town in Tate County · population 1,381 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $91,300
- Household income
- $44,054
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 41.0
Coldwater is a town of 1,381 people in Tate County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $91,300, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Mississippi towns, better transit than 93% of Mississippi towns, quieter than 80% of Mississippi towns.
How Coldwater 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 Coldwater is worth $91,300, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $44,054, which is more affordable than 86% of Mississippi towns. 61.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Coldwater | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $91,300 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | — | $820 |
| Median household income | $44,054 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 61.4% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.2% | — |
Who lives in Coldwater
| People | Coldwater | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.3% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.7% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.2% | 83.3% |
Weather in Coldwater
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 30.8°F. About 57.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Coldwater since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 2, 2025 about 2.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 2, 2025.
Severe weather in Tate County since 1996
Tate County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, 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 16, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4536: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Tate County
Tate County had 6,361 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,656 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Coldwater itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Coldwater
4 public schools with 1,244 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 539 | 16.3 |
| EAST TATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 495 | 17.1 |
| COLDWATER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 210 | 11.1 |
| SENATOBIA TATE CO REGIONAL VOC CTR | 10-12 | — | — |
Towns near Coldwater
- Senatobia, MS5.7 mi · 8,354 people · home $212,100
- Hernando, MS11.0 mi · 17,138 people · home $315,900
- Como, MS12.4 mi · 1,118 people · home $180,600
- Bridgetown, MS14.3 mi · 2,281 people · home $344,500
- Crenshaw, MS17.9 mi · 638 people · home $76,600
- Sardis, MS18.0 mi · 1,748 people · home $82,600
- Southaven, MS18.0 mi · 54,648 people · home $236,300
- Horn Lake, MS18.6 mi · 26,736 people · home $171,400
Coldwater questions
Is Coldwater, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Coldwater scores better for retirees than 44% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 80%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Coldwater?
The median owner-occupied home in Coldwater is valued at $91,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,054, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Coldwater?
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 30.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Coldwater get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Coldwater since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 2, 2025. 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)