The Town FilesLeland, Mississippi
City in Washington County · population 3,988 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $109,700
- Household income
- $37,406
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 43.1
Leland is a city of 3,988 people in Washington County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $109,700, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of Mississippi towns, more of a college town than 88% of Mississippi towns, better for young professionals than 84% of Mississippi towns.
- #2 in The 21 Best Small Towns to Retire in Mississippi
- #9 in 24 Small Towns in Mississippi With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #14 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Mississippi
- #16 in 16 Small Towns in Mississippi With the Cheapest Homes
- #23 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Mississippi
- #48 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Leland 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 Leland is worth $109,700, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $37,406, which is more affordable than 49% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $834 a month. 69.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Leland | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $109,700 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $834 | $820 |
| Median household income | $37,406 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.4% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Leland
| People | Leland | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.3% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 14.8 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 51.9% | 83.3% |
Weather in Leland
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 34.3°F. About 56.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 86 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 44 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Leland since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 17, 1978 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 11, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 1, 1974.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 30 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 |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4874: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4697: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 14,601 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,446 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Leland itself the ACS puts it at 8.6%.
Public schools in Leland
4 public schools with 687 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LELAND SCHOOL PARK | 6-8 | 248 | 10.3 |
| EDNA M SCOTT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 1-5 | 236 | 12.4 |
| LELAND HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 203 | 15.6 |
| LELAND CAREER & TECHNICAL CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Leland
- Greenville, MS9.4 mi · 29,670 people · home $103,800
- Indianola, MS14.6 mi · 9,646 people · home $108,800
- Cleveland, MS25.2 mi · 11,199 people · home $159,300
- Ruleville, MS29.6 mi · 2,642 people · home $85,000
Leland questions
Is Leland, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Leland scores better for retirees than 96% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 49%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in Leland?
The median owner-occupied home in Leland is valued at $109,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,406, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $834 a month.
What is the weather like in Leland?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 34.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Leland get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Leland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 17, 1978. 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)