The Town FilesHazlehurst, Mississippi
City in Copiah County · population 3,619 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $110,500
- Household income
- $43,552
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 39.7
Hazlehurst is a city of 3,619 people in Copiah County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $110,500, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Mississippi towns, more walkable than 89% of Mississippi towns, better transit than 86% of Mississippi towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Mississippi
- #8 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Mississippi
- #12 in 24 Small Towns in Mississippi With the Mildest Winters
- #13 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Mississippi
- #38 in The 50 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in America
- #40 in The 50 Best Places for First-Time Home Buyers in America
How Hazlehurst 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 Hazlehurst is worth $110,500, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $43,552, which is more affordable than 71% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $676 a month. 60.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hazlehurst | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $110,500 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $676 | $820 |
| Median household income | $43,552 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 60.3% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hazlehurst
| People | Hazlehurst | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.9% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.0% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.7% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.2% | 83.3% |
Weather in Hazlehurst
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 39.3°F. About 61.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 78 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 33 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hazlehurst since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 29, 1976 about 0.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 145 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 8, 1978.
Severe weather in Copiah County since 1996
Copiah County has been included in 28 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 Copiah County
Copiah County had 6,434 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,976 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Hazlehurst itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Hazlehurst
3 public schools with 1,328 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAZLEHURST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 615 | 15.0 |
| HAZLEHURST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 436 | 19.8 |
| HAZLEHURST MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 277 | 13.9 |
Towns near Hazlehurst
- Crystal Springs, MS9.0 mi · 4,862 people · home $113,000
- Brookhaven, MS19.8 mi · 11,674 people · home $121,900
- Byram, MS23.5 mi · 12,666 people · home $206,600
- Florence, MS25.6 mi · 4,572 people · home $230,800
- Richland, MS28.8 mi · 7,137 people · home $125,800
Hazlehurst questions
Is Hazlehurst, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hazlehurst scores better for retirees than 25% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 6%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.7).
How much does a house cost in Hazlehurst?
The median owner-occupied home in Hazlehurst is valued at $110,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,552, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $676 a month.
What is the weather like in Hazlehurst?
July highs average 90.4°F and January lows 39.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Hazlehurst get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hazlehurst since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 29, 1976. 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)