The Town FilesVancleave, Mississippi
Community in Jackson County · population 5,592 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $247,400
- Household income
- $70,313
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 43.6
Vancleave is a community of 5,592 people in Jackson County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $247,400, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better for families than 99% of Mississippi towns, more upscale than 92% of Mississippi towns, quieter than 91% of Mississippi towns.
How Vancleave 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 Vancleave is worth $247,400, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $70,313, which is more affordable than 20% of Mississippi towns. 95.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vancleave | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $247,400 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | — | $820 |
| Median household income | $70,313 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 95.5% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 2000 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.4% | — |
Who lives in Vancleave
| People | Vancleave | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.6% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 14.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 33.3 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 83.3% |
Weather in Vancleave
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 40.9°F. About 61.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 80 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 27 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vancleave since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 21, 1985 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 27, 2023.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, 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 |
| August 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4727: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes. |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 51,303 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,641 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Vancleave itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Vancleave
5 public schools with 2,295 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| VANCLEAVE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 745 | 16.6 |
| VANCLEAVE LOWER ELEMENTARY | K-3 | 657 | 14.0 |
| VANCLEAVE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 548 | 15.7 |
| VANCLEAVE UPPER ELEMENTARY | 4-5 | 345 | 15.7 |
| JACKSON COUNTY VOCATIONAL CENTER | 10-12 | — | — |
Towns near Vancleave
- Escatawpa, MS8.6 mi · 3,254 people · home $107,900
- Gautier, MS9.7 mi · 19,024 people · home $166,400
- Latimer, MS11.2 mi · 6,720 people · home $189,400
- Gulf Hills, MS11.6 mi · 8,526 people · home $203,700
- Moss Point, MS11.8 mi · 12,147 people · home $110,100
- Ocean Springs, MS12.0 mi · 18,429 people · home $259,400
- Gulf Park Estates, MS12.6 mi · 5,972 people · home $212,500
- St. Martin, MS13.5 mi · 7,811 people · home $172,400
Vancleave questions
Is Vancleave, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vancleave scores better for retirees than 59% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 91%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.6).
How much does a house cost in Vancleave?
The median owner-occupied home in Vancleave is valued at $247,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,313, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Vancleave?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 40.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Vancleave get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vancleave since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 21, 1985. 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)