The Town FilesShaw, Mississippi
City in Bolivar County · population 1,457 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $102,100
- Household income
- $30,469
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 38.8
Shaw is a city of 1,457 people in Bolivar County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $102,100, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks easier by car than 81% of Mississippi towns, better for retirees than 75% of Mississippi towns.
How Shaw 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 Shaw is worth $102,100, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $30,469, which is more affordable than 21% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $556 a month. 62.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shaw | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $102,100 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $556 | $820 |
| Median household income | $30,469 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 62.8% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Shaw
| People | Shaw | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.3% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 37.5% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 1.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.8% | 83.3% |
Weather in Shaw
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 33.2°F. About 59.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.0 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 93 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 50 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shaw since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 24, 2001 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on November 29, 2016.
Severe weather in Bolivar County since 1996
Bolivar County has been included in 24 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 |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
| April 16, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4536: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Bolivar County
Bolivar County had 10,569 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,457 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Shaw itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Public schools in Shaw
2 public schools with 394 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHAW HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 199 | 10.5 |
| MCEVANS SCHOOL | K-6 | 195 | 12.2 |
Towns near Shaw
- Boyle, MS7.7 mi · 532 people · home —
- Cleveland, MS10.2 mi · 11,199 people · home $159,300
- Renova, MS12.7 mi · 676 people · home $105,700
- Indianola, MS12.9 mi · 9,646 people · home $108,800
- Sunflower, MS14.1 mi · 964 people · home $77,600
- Leland, MS15.2 mi · 3,988 people · home $109,700
- Ruleville, MS15.3 mi · 2,642 people · home $85,000
- Metcalfe, MS16.9 mi · 816 people · home $71,800
Shaw questions
Is Shaw, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shaw scores better for retirees than 75% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 65%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Shaw?
The median owner-occupied home in Shaw is valued at $102,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $30,469, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $556 a month.
What is the weather like in Shaw?
July highs average 92.0°F and January lows 33.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1.0 inches of snow.
Does Shaw get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shaw since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 24, 2001. 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)