The Town FilesRichton, Mississippi
Town in Perry County · population 920 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $149,300
- Household income
- $35,057
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 44.5
Richton is a town of 920 people in Perry County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $149,300, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks quieter than 87% of Mississippi towns.
How Richton 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 Richton is worth $149,300, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $35,057, which is more affordable than 6% of Mississippi towns. 67.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Richton | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $149,300 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | — | $820 |
| Median household income | $35,057 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.7% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Richton
| People | Richton | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.2% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.8% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.6% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 1.5% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 41.0 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 70.9% | 83.3% |
Weather in Richton
July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 35.6°F. About 63.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 113 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 49 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richton since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on February 26, 1958 about 2.8 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 27 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 16, 2023.
Severe weather in Perry County since 1996
Perry County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| 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 Perry County
Perry County had 2,098 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,298 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Richton itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Richton
3 public schools with 883 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAND HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-8 | 300 | 14.3 |
| RICHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 299 | 11.5 |
| RICHTON HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 284 | 10.9 |
Towns near Richton
- New Augusta, MS11.4 mi · 554 people · home $84,700
- Beaumont, MS12.6 mi · 669 people · home $259,100
- Petal, MS17.4 mi · 11,010 people · home $174,900
- Glendale, MS21.7 mi · 1,681 people · home $158,400
- Hattiesburg, MS22.4 mi · 48,730 people · home $165,900
- Ellisville, MS23.4 mi · 4,652 people · home $99,500
- Arnold Line, MS25.8 mi · 2,333 people · home $157,900
- West Hattiesburg, MS25.9 mi · 6,006 people · home $213,700
Richton questions
Is Richton, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Richton scores better for retirees than 61% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 87%. 30.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.5).
How much does a house cost in Richton?
The median owner-occupied home in Richton is valued at $149,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,057, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Richton?
July highs average 93.5°F and January lows 35.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 63.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Richton get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on February 26, 1958. 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)