The Town FilesCollins, Mississippi
City in Covington County · population 2,342 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $84,200
- Household income
- $37,944
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 61
- Median age
- 48.8
Collins is a city of 2,342 people in Covington County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $84,200, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better transit than 99% of Mississippi towns, more vibrant than 72% of Mississippi towns.
How Collins 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 Collins is worth $84,200, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $37,944, which is more affordable than 83% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $751 a month. 55.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Collins | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $84,200 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $751 | $820 |
| Median household income | $37,944 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 55.1% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Collins
| People | Collins | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.8 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.6% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 38.3% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 11.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 27.1 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 70.7% | 83.3% |
Weather in Collins
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 34.0°F. About 58.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 70 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 41 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
61 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Collins since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 24 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on March 15, 2025 about 6.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 248 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 18, 2013.
Severe weather in Covington County since 1996
Covington County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 3, 2026 | Tropical Storm | DR-4930: Tropical Storm Arthur |
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4874: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4727: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes. |
Jobs and pay in Covington County
Covington County had 5,783 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,659 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Collins itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Collins
5 public schools with 1,083 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| COLLINS ELEMENTARY | K-6 | 464 | 16.0 |
| COLLINS HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 424 | 13.3 |
| HOPEWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 195 | 8.5 |
| COVINGTON COUNTY ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL | K-12 | — | — |
| COVINGTON CO VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Collins
- Mount Olive, MS9.0 mi · 895 people · home $66,300
- Taylorsville, MS14.9 mi · 1,148 people · home $143,500
- Sumrall, MS16.0 mi · 1,765 people · home $206,800
- Magee, MS18.3 mi · 3,988 people · home $143,100
- Prentiss, MS18.4 mi · 976 people · home $76,100
- Rawls Springs, MS21.2 mi · 1,202 people · home $88,900
- Ellisville, MS21.3 mi · 4,652 people · home $99,500
- Arnold Line, MS24.2 mi · 2,333 people · home $157,900
Collins questions
Is Collins, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Collins scores better for retirees than 36% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 34%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.8).
How much does a house cost in Collins?
The median owner-occupied home in Collins is valued at $84,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,944, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $751 a month.
What is the weather like in Collins?
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 34.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Collins get tornadoes?
61 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Collins since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on March 15, 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)