The Town FilesLong Beach, Mississippi
City in Harrison County · population 16,780 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $215,200
- Household income
- $70,332
- Jan low / Jul high
- 44° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 54
- Median age
- 39.6
Long Beach is a city of 16,780 people in Harrison County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $215,200, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Mississippi towns, more seaside character than 95% of Mississippi towns, better for cycling than 89% of Mississippi towns.
How Long Beach 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 Long Beach is worth $215,200, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $70,332, which is more affordable than 37% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $1,215 a month. 65.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Long Beach | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $215,200 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $1,215 | $820 |
| Median household income | $70,332 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 65.7% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Long Beach
| People | Long Beach | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.6% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 83.3% |
Weather in Long Beach
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 43.7°F. About 68.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 13 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
54 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Long Beach since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 19, 1980 about 9.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 75 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 25, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on January 31, 1964.
Severe weather in Harrison County since 1996
Harrison County has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Harrison County
Harrison County had 89,013 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,164 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Long Beach itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Long Beach
5 public schools with 2,897 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| LONG BEACH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 934 | 15.6 |
| HARPER MC CAUGHAN ELEM SCHOOL | 4-6 | 658 | 15.0 |
| LONG BEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 446 | 17.2 |
| THOMAS L REEVES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-3 | 432 | 13.5 |
| WJ QUARLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-3 | 427 | 12.9 |
Towns near Long Beach
- Pass Christian, MS5.2 mi · 5,686 people · home $270,900
- Gulfport, MS7.2 mi · 72,926 people · home $174,600
- Diamondhead, MS11.3 mi · 9,529 people · home $259,600
- Bay St. Louis, MS11.9 mi · 9,284 people · home $260,200
- Waveland, MS14.4 mi · 7,210 people · home $218,900
- Biloxi, MS14.4 mi · 49,449 people · home $225,100
- D'Iberville, MS17.1 mi · 12,721 people · home $210,100
- St. Martin, MS18.8 mi · 7,811 people · home $172,400
Long Beach questions
Is Long Beach, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Long Beach scores better for retirees than 68% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 16%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Long Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Long Beach is valued at $215,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,332, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,215 a month.
What is the weather like in Long Beach?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 43.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 68.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Long Beach get tornadoes?
54 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Long Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 19, 1980. 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)