The Town FilesRaleigh, Mississippi
Town in Smith County · population 1,094 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $110,900
- Household income
- $61,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 61
- Median age
- 44.5
Raleigh is a town of 1,094 people in Smith County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $110,900, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks quieter than 98% of Mississippi towns, better for retirees than 95% of Mississippi towns, better for families than 82% of Mississippi towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Mississippi
- #6 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Mississippi
- #14 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Mississippi
- #20 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Mississippi
- #46 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #46 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
How Raleigh 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 Raleigh is worth $110,900, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $61,667, which is more affordable than 93% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $496 a month. 82.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Raleigh | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $110,900 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $496 | $820 |
| Median household income | $61,667 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.3% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Raleigh
| People | Raleigh | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.4% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 15.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.2% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 0.8% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 62.9% | 83.3% |
Weather in Raleigh
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 33.2°F. About 61.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 65 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
61 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Raleigh since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 17 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 22, 1992 about 8.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 75 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on February 18, 1962.
Severe weather in Smith County since 1996
Smith County has been included in 25 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 |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4874: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4727: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes. |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Smith County
Smith County had 2,675 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,765 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Raleigh itself the ACS puts it at 16.6%.
Public schools in Raleigh
4 public schools with 1,095 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RALEIGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 624 | 14.9 |
| RALEIGH HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 471 | 13.9 |
| SMITH COUNTY CAREER CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
| COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER | 3-12 | — | — |
Towns near Raleigh
- Polkville, MS14.7 mi · 588 people · home $97,500
- Bay Springs, MS14.9 mi · 1,670 people · home $152,700
- Taylorsville, MS15.0 mi · 1,148 people · home $143,500
- Magee, MS16.5 mi · 3,988 people · home $143,100
- Mendenhall, MS20.8 mi · 2,199 people · home $125,900
- Mount Olive, MS20.9 mi · 895 people · home $66,300
- Forest, MS22.7 mi · 5,430 people · home $141,100
- Morton, MS22.9 mi · 3,711 people · home $84,200
Raleigh questions
Is Raleigh, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Raleigh scores better for retirees than 95% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 98%. 25.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.5).
How much does a house cost in Raleigh?
The median owner-occupied home in Raleigh is valued at $110,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,667, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $496 a month.
What is the weather like in Raleigh?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 33.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Raleigh get tornadoes?
61 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Raleigh 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)