The Town FilesPearlington, Mississippi
Community in Hancock County · population 1,153 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,100
- Household income
- $44,507
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 48.3
Pearlington is a community of 1,153 people in Hancock County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $98,100, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more seaside character than 98% of Mississippi towns, quieter than 95% of Mississippi towns, better for first-time buyers than 88% of Mississippi towns.
How Pearlington 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 Pearlington is worth $98,100, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $44,507, which is more affordable than 83% of Mississippi towns. 91.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pearlington | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,100 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | — | $820 |
| Median household income | $44,507 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.6% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 2004 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.0% | — |
Who lives in Pearlington
| People | Pearlington | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.3 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.8% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.8% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.6% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 34.2 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.0% | 83.3% |
Weather in Pearlington
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 39.8°F. About 64.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 80 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 31 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pearlington since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 19, 1980 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 18, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 6, 2011.
Severe weather in Hancock County since 1996
Hancock County has been included in 33 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 |
| June 10, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4790: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Hancock County
Hancock County had 14,399 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,168 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Pearlington itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Towns near Pearlington
- Slidell, LA11.0 mi · 28,781 people · home $217,700
- Pearl River, LA12.0 mi · 2,565 people · home $235,200
- Eden Isle, LA12.3 mi · 7,782 people · home $371,600
- Waveland, MS13.0 mi · 7,210 people · home $218,900
- Bay St. Louis, MS15.5 mi · 9,284 people · home $260,200
- Kiln, MS15.6 mi · 2,224 people · home $167,500
- Nicholson, MS17.3 mi · 2,833 people · home $97,400
- Diamondhead, MS17.7 mi · 9,529 people · home $259,600
Pearlington questions
Is Pearlington, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pearlington scores better for retirees than 13% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 95%. 23.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.3).
How much does a house cost in Pearlington?
The median owner-occupied home in Pearlington is valued at $98,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,507, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Pearlington?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 39.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 64.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Pearlington get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pearlington 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)