The Town FilesMathiston, Mississippi
Town in Webster County · population 831 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $155,000
- Household income
- $59,236
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 40.0
Mathiston is a town of 831 people in Webster County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $155,000, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for families than 97% of Mississippi towns, easier by car than 96% of Mississippi towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of Mississippi towns.
How Mathiston 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 Mathiston is worth $155,000, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $59,236, which is more affordable than 66% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $637 a month. 70.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mathiston | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,000 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $637 | $820 |
| Median household income | $59,236 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.4% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Mathiston
| People | Mathiston | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.3% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.2% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 30.6 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 83.3% |
Weather in Mathiston
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 31.6°F. About 58.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.0 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 64 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 70 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mathiston since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 22, 1992 about 4.8 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 88 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 29, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 20, 2011.
Severe weather in Webster County since 1996
Webster County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| May 4, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4598: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Webster County
Webster County had 2,037 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,232 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Mathiston itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Mathiston
1 public school with 425 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAST WEBSTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 425 | 11.8 |
Towns near Mathiston
- Maben, MS2.8 mi · 771 people · home $79,800
- Eupora, MS8.8 mi · 2,018 people · home $103,100
- Ackerman, MS15.9 mi · 1,594 people · home $147,300
- Starkville, MS18.0 mi · 24,360 people · home $299,900
- Mississippi State, MS20.2 mi · 4,968 people · home —
- Vardaman, MS23.9 mi · 1,110 people · home $53,800
- Derma, MS24.0 mi · 957 people · home $84,800
- Calhoun City, MS24.7 mi · 1,533 people · home $94,700
Mathiston questions
Is Mathiston, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mathiston scores better for retirees than 40% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 88%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Mathiston?
The median owner-occupied home in Mathiston is valued at $155,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,236, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $637 a month.
What is the weather like in Mathiston?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 31.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.7 inches of precipitation a year and 1.0 inches of snow.
Does Mathiston get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mathiston since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 22, 1992. 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)