The Town FilesTupelo, Mississippi
City in Lee County · population 37,923 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $212,800
- Household income
- $66,257
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 38.3
Tupelo is a city of 37,923 people in Lee County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $212,800, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of Mississippi towns, more vibrant than 88% of Mississippi towns, more upscale than 86% of Mississippi towns.
How Tupelo 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 Tupelo is worth $212,800, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $66,257, which is more affordable than 30% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $976 a month. 63.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tupelo | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $212,800 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $976 | $820 |
| Median household income | $66,257 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 63.4% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Tupelo
| People | Tupelo | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.5% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.1% | 83.3% |
Weather in Tupelo
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 31.7°F. About 57.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.8 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 66 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 57 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tupelo since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 29, 1963 about 9.6 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 102 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 5, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 90 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on October 25, 1997.
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 Tupelo itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Tupelo
16 public schools with 7,134 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,101 | 15.8 |
| TUPELO MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 1,062 | 13.8 |
| MILAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 6-6 | 542 | 13.9 |
| LAWHON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 2-5 | 533 | 12.7 |
| JOYNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-2 | 430 | 9.8 |
| PARKWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-2 | 428 | 10.2 |
| THOMAS STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-2 | 376 | 9.6 |
| LAWNDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 369 | 10.5 |
| RANKIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-5 | 337 | 10.5 |
| PIERCE STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 3-6 | 337 | 10.9 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER | PK-PK | 327 | 15.6 |
| CARVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-1 | 292 | 8.6 |
Towns near Tupelo
- Verona, MS5.6 mi · 2,792 people · home $118,300
- Saltillo, MS7.9 mi · 4,922 people · home $204,900
- Pontotoc, MS15.8 mi · 5,640 people · home $155,800
- Baldwyn, MS17.0 mi · 3,071 people · home $98,600
- Okolona, MS18.4 mi · 2,513 people · home $92,200
- Fulton, MS18.9 mi · 4,542 people · home $158,600
- New Albany, MS22.5 mi · 7,626 people · home $161,400
- Amory, MS24.5 mi · 6,666 people · home $162,000
Tupelo questions
Is Tupelo, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tupelo scores better for retirees than 40% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 34%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Tupelo?
The median owner-occupied home in Tupelo is valued at $212,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,257, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $976 a month.
What is the weather like in Tupelo?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 31.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.8 inches of snow.
Does Tupelo get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tupelo 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)