The Town FilesPontotoc, Mississippi
City in Pontotoc County · population 5,640 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,800
- Household income
- $46,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 34.0
Pontotoc is a city of 5,640 people in Pontotoc County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $155,800, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks hipper than 93% of Mississippi towns, easier by car than 90% of Mississippi towns, more walkable than 85% of Mississippi towns.
How Pontotoc 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 Pontotoc is worth $155,800, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $46,167, which is more affordable than 21% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $803 a month. 53.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pontotoc | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,800 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $803 | $820 |
| Median household income | $46,167 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.8% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Pontotoc
| People | Pontotoc | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.4% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.4% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 83.3% |
Weather in Pontotoc
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 31.4°F. About 60.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pontotoc since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 1, 1997 about 9.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 33 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 1, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 9, 2024.
Severe weather in Pontotoc County since 1996
Pontotoc County has been included in 20 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 |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4528: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Pontotoc County
Pontotoc County had 11,759 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,725 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Pontotoc itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Pontotoc
10 public schools with 3,988 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Pontotoc Elementary School | K-5 | 797 | 12.9 |
| PONTOTOC HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 713 | 15.8 |
| PONTOTOC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 630 | 10.5 |
| South Pontotoc High School | 9-12 | 447 | 14.0 |
| South Pontotoc Middle School | 6-8 | 388 | 13.4 |
| PONTOTOC JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-8 | 355 | 12.2 |
| D T COX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-4 | 332 | 11.9 |
| PONTOTOC MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-6 | 326 | 13.6 |
| Pontotoc Ridge Career & Tech. Cnt. | 9-12 | — | — |
| PONTOTOC CO ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM | 5-12 | — | — |
Towns near Pontotoc
- Tupelo, MS15.8 mi · 37,923 people · home $212,800
- New Albany, MS16.7 mi · 7,626 people · home $161,400
- Verona, MS17.0 mi · 2,792 people · home $118,300
- Saltillo, MS19.9 mi · 4,922 people · home $204,900
- Okolona, MS22.6 mi · 2,513 people · home $92,200
- Houston, MS24.5 mi · 3,797 people · home $122,800
- Baldwyn, MS27.3 mi · 3,071 people · home $98,600
Pontotoc questions
Is Pontotoc, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pontotoc scores better for retirees than 49% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 33%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.0).
How much does a house cost in Pontotoc?
The median owner-occupied home in Pontotoc is valued at $155,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,167, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $803 a month.
What is the weather like in Pontotoc?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 31.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Pontotoc get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pontotoc since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 1, 1997. 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)