The Town FilesUniversity, Mississippi
Community in Lafayette County · population 4,696 (2020 Census)
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 19.1
University is a community of 4,696 people in Lafayette County, Mississippi. It ranks more walkable than 100% of Mississippi towns, more vibrant than 100% of Mississippi towns, more of a college town than 100% of Mississippi towns.
How University 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
| Housing | University | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | — | $124,700 |
| Median rent | — | $820 |
| Median household income | — | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | — | 65.3% |
| Median year built | — | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | — | — |
Who lives in University
| People | University | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 19.1 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 0.0% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 0.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 80.0% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | — | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 0.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 9.2 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | — | 83.3% |
Weather in University
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 30.6°F. About 60.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 68 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of University since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on February 21, 1971 about 0.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 27 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 24, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on April 10, 1962.
Severe weather in Lafayette County since 1996
Lafayette County has been included in 21 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 |
| May 4, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4598: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Lafayette County
Lafayette County had 25,442 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,652 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in University itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Towns near University
- Oxford, MS1.0 mi · 25,416 people · home $385,700
- Water Valley, MS15.0 mi · 3,380 people · home $135,500
- Batesville, MS22.3 mi · 7,523 people · home $222,400
- Holly Springs, MS29.0 mi · 6,968 people · home $109,600
University questions
Is University, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, University scores better for retirees than 2% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 0%. 0.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 19.1).
What is the weather like in University?
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 30.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.5 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does University get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of University since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on February 21, 1971. 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)