The Town FilesPetal, Mississippi
City in Forrest County · population 11,010 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,900
- Household income
- $74,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 41
- Median age
- 37.0
Petal is a city of 11,010 people in Forrest County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $174,900, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Mississippi towns, better for families than 90% of Mississippi towns, more vibrant than 84% of Mississippi towns.
How Petal 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 Petal is worth $174,900, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $74,750, which is more affordable than 80% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $1,047 a month. 70.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Petal | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,900 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $1,047 | $820 |
| Median household income | $74,750 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.0% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Petal
| People | Petal | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.2% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.8% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 83.3% |
Weather in Petal
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 38.1°F. About 58.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 96 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 34 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Petal since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on February 10, 2013 about 6.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 156 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 18, 1996.
Severe weather in Forrest County since 1996
Forrest County has been included in 32 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 |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
| October 28, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3550: Hurricane Zeta |
Jobs and pay in Forrest County
Forrest County had 39,390 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,547 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Petal itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Petal
6 public schools with 4,600 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETAL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,335 | 14.2 |
| PETAL PRIMARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 1,089 | 12.1 |
| PETAL MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 680 | 13.3 |
| PETAL UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 5-6 | 665 | 14.1 |
| PETAL ELEMENTARY | 3-4 | 631 | 13.1 |
| RUNNELSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-5 | 200 | 9.1 |
Towns near Petal
- Hattiesburg, MS5.6 mi · 48,730 people · home $165,900
- West Hattiesburg, MS8.8 mi · 6,006 people · home $213,700
- Ellisville, MS17.3 mi · 4,652 people · home $99,500
- Laurel, MS24.2 mi · 17,161 people · home $125,800
Petal questions
Is Petal, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Petal scores better for retirees than 71% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 46%. 15.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.0).
How much does a house cost in Petal?
The median owner-occupied home in Petal is valued at $174,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,750, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,047 a month.
What is the weather like in Petal?
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 38.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Petal get tornadoes?
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Petal since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on February 10, 2013. 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)