The Town FilesShannon, Mississippi
Town in Lee County · population 1,496 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $130,900
- Household income
- $42,297
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 35.4
Shannon is a town of 1,496 people in Lee County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $130,900, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better transit than 91% of Mississippi towns.
How Shannon 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 Shannon is worth $130,900, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $42,297, which is more affordable than 37% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $822 a month. 61.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shannon | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $130,900 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $822 | $820 |
| Median household income | $42,297 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 61.5% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Shannon
| People | Shannon | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.8% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.1% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 68.4% | 83.3% |
Weather in Shannon
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 32.5°F. About 59.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 76 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 62 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shannon since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 29, 1963 about 1.0 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 111 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 27, 2011.
Severe weather in Lee County since 1996
Lee County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| 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 |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Lee County
Lee County had 52,532 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,183 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Shannon itself the ACS puts it at 8.9%.
Public schools in Shannon
4 public schools with 1,193 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHANNON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 499 | 11.3 |
| SHANNON PRIMARY SCHOOL | PK-2 | 263 | 10.1 |
| SHANNON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 230 | 12.1 |
| SHANNON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 201 | 10.1 |
Towns near Shannon
- Nettleton, MS4.4 mi · 1,935 people · home $119,900
- Verona, MS5.4 mi · 2,792 people · home $118,300
- Plantersville, MS6.7 mi · 868 people · home $125,000
- Okolona, MS8.2 mi · 2,513 people · home $92,200
- Tupelo, MS11.0 mi · 37,923 people · home $212,800
- Mooreville, MS12.3 mi · 859 people · home $177,900
- Amory, MS15.1 mi · 6,666 people · home $162,000
- Smithville, MS17.2 mi · 509 people · home $112,000
Shannon questions
Is Shannon, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shannon scores better for retirees than 48% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 68%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Shannon?
The median owner-occupied home in Shannon is valued at $130,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,297, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $822 a month.
What is the weather like in Shannon?
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 32.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Shannon get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shannon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 29, 1963. 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)