The Town FilesMendenhall, Mississippi
City in Simpson County · population 2,199 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $125,900
- Household income
- $40,141
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 64
- Median age
- 47.3
Mendenhall is a city of 2,199 people in Simpson County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $125,900, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks hipper than 86% of Mississippi towns, better for retirees than 77% of Mississippi towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of Mississippi towns.
How Mendenhall 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 Mendenhall is worth $125,900, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $40,141, which is more affordable than 37% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $816 a month. 70.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mendenhall | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $125,900 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $816 | $820 |
| Median household income | $40,141 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.7% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Mendenhall
| People | Mendenhall | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.5% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.7% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 0.7% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.6% | 83.3% |
Weather in Mendenhall
July highs average 94.7°F and January lows 37.6°F. About 57.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 77 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
64 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mendenhall since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 19 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 29, 1976 about 5.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 16 deaths and 178 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 25, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 6, 2005.
Severe weather in Simpson County since 1996
Simpson 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 |
| 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 Simpson County
Simpson County had 7,683 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $37,183 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Mendenhall itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Mendenhall
4 public schools with 1,298 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MENDENHALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 543 | 13.6 |
| MENDENHALL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 529 | 17.1 |
| MENDENHALL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 6-8 | 226 | 12.6 |
| SIMPSON CO TECHNICAL CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Mendenhall
- Magee, MS10.0 mi · 3,988 people · home $143,100
- Robinhood, MS17.5 mi · 1,491 people · home $93,100
- Polkville, MS18.9 mi · 588 people · home $97,500
- Mount Olive, MS19.0 mi · 895 people · home $66,300
- Florence, MS20.0 mi · 4,572 people · home $230,800
- Raleigh, MS20.8 mi · 1,094 people · home $110,900
- Brandon, MS23.0 mi · 25,138 people · home $278,900
- Cleary, MS23.5 mi · 1,688 people · home $166,400
Mendenhall questions
Is Mendenhall, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mendenhall scores better for retirees than 77% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 57%. 29.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.3).
How much does a house cost in Mendenhall?
The median owner-occupied home in Mendenhall is valued at $125,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,141, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $816 a month.
What is the weather like in Mendenhall?
July highs average 94.7°F and January lows 37.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Mendenhall get tornadoes?
64 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mendenhall 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)