The Town FilesRipley, Mississippi
City in Tippah County · population 5,462 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $117,200
- Household income
- $55,444
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 42.5
Ripley is a city of 5,462 people in Tippah County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $117,200, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more walkable than 74% of Mississippi towns, more vibrant than 72% of Mississippi towns.
- #7 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Mississippi
- #7 in 24 Small Towns in Mississippi With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #15 in The 20 Best Small Towns for Families in Mississippi
- #21 in The 21 Best Small Towns to Retire in Mississippi
- #24 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Mississippi
How Ripley 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 Ripley is worth $117,200, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $55,444, which is more affordable than 86% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $735 a month. 62.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ripley | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $117,200 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $735 | $820 |
| Median household income | $55,444 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 62.3% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ripley
| People | Ripley | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.9% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.1% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 0.8% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 83.3% |
Weather in Ripley
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 29.1°F. About 57.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.6 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 48 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ripley since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 19, 1970 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 5, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 22, 1988.
Severe weather in Tippah County since 1996
Tippah 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 Tippah County
Tippah County had 7,028 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,336 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Ripley itself the ACS puts it at 10.7%.
Public schools in Ripley
5 public schools with 2,183 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PINE GROVE HIGH SCHOOL | PK-12 | 611 | 12.7 |
| RIPLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 608 | 11.5 |
| RIPLEY HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 491 | 14.0 |
| RIPLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 473 | 13.1 |
| NORTH SOUTH TIPPAH VOC TECH CENTER | 10-12 | — | — |
Towns near Ripley
- New Albany, MS17.5 mi · 7,626 people · home $161,400
- Booneville, MS21.5 mi · 9,126 people · home $136,700
- Baldwyn, MS23.1 mi · 3,071 people · home $98,600
- Corinth, MS28.1 mi · 14,622 people · home $177,100
- Saltillo, MS28.1 mi · 4,922 people · home $204,900
- Holly Springs, MS29.1 mi · 6,968 people · home $109,600
Ripley questions
Is Ripley, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ripley scores better for retirees than 60% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 55%. 25.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Ripley?
The median owner-occupied home in Ripley is valued at $117,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,444, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $735 a month.
What is the weather like in Ripley?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 29.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.6 inches of snow.
Does Ripley get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ripley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 19, 1970. 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)