Derma, Mississippi
Town in Calhoun County · population 957 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $84,800
- Household income
- $41,071
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 36.4
Derma is a town of 957 people in Calhoun County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $84,800, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks easier by car than 85% of Mississippi towns, better for retirees than 81% of Mississippi towns, more walkable than 71% of Mississippi towns.
How Derma 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 Derma is worth $84,800, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $41,071, which is more affordable than 86% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $752 a month. 43.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Derma | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $84,800 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $752 | $820 |
| Median household income | $41,071 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 43.2% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Derma
| People | Derma | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.5% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 30.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.4% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 40.3% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 64.5% | 83.3% |
Weather in Derma
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 31.9°F. About 57.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 63 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Derma since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 27, 2011 about 9.1 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 29 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 1, 1970.
Severe weather in Calhoun County since 1996
Calhoun County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Calhoun County
Calhoun County had 2,905 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $38,736 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Derma itself the ACS puts it at 10.3%.
Towns near Derma
- Calhoun City, MS1.5 mi · 1,533 people · home $94,700
- Vardaman, MS6.5 mi · 1,110 people · home $53,800
- Bruce, MS9.7 mi · 1,707 people · home $71,700
- Houston, MS16.5 mi · 3,797 people · home $122,800
- New Houlka, MS19.6 mi · 698 people · home $85,100
- Eupora, MS21.9 mi · 2,018 people · home $103,100
- Mathiston, MS24.0 mi · 831 people · home $155,000
- Coffeeville, MS24.2 mi · 797 people · home $87,300
Derma questions
Is Derma, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Derma scores better for retirees than 81% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 53%. 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Derma?
The median owner-occupied home in Derma is valued at $84,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,071, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $752 a month.
What is the weather like in Derma?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 31.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Derma get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Derma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 27, 2011. 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)