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Petal, Mississippi

city · Forrest County

At a glance

11,294
Population
$174,900
Median home value (all homes)
42% below U.S. median
$225,750
Typical market value
Zillow, 2026-07
$1,047/mo
Median rent
22% below U.S. median
$74,750
Median household income
5% below U.S. median
21.5 min
Average commute
87.8%
Homes with broadband
48.68%
Locations with fiber available
3.6%
Unemployment

Cost of living (Clay Affordability Index)

CAI 89 — 11% below the national average. how it's computed

Housing25% below
Goods & services4% below
Utilities3% above
Taxes24% below
Insurance2% above
Commute cost29% below
For business: Mississippi is CBII band 2/5 · time to build band 1/5. See state page for the breakdown.

Living here

Nearest 4-year college3 mi
Nearest community college4 mi
Nearest technical college2 mi
High school graduates91.8%
College graduates27.8%

Doing business here

Economic development contacts, most local first:

city The ADP
Area Development Partnership (ADP) is the regional chamber of commerce and economic development organization for Greater Hattiesburg, MS. It positions itself as a hub for thriving businesses and provides information on economic development, business assistance, site selection, taxes and incentives, and community development.
region Southern Mississippi Planning & Dev. Dis
SMPDD is a regional planning and development district serving 15 counties and 38 municipalities in South Mississippi, connecting individuals, businesses, and industries to agencies that provide help and funding for seniors and disabled, job seekers resources, business loan programs, economic development and community development tools, and technical assistance and planning.
state Electric Power Associations of Mississippi
Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi is the unified voice of Mississippi Electric Cooperatives. The page lists 841878 members, 26 electric cooperatives, 98272 miles of energized line, and 3395 employees.
state Entergy Mississippi Economic Development
Mississippi Economic Development is the Entergy Mississippi division providing business and economic development contacts for Mississippi; the page lists regional staff and contact details.
state Mississippi Economic Dev Council
Mississippi Economic Development Council (MEDC) serves as the voice for economic development and chamber stakeholders and professionals across Mississippi.
state Tennessee Valley Authority Sites & Buildings
TVA Economic Development offers programs and services designed to spark job creation, encourage investment, and boost wages in TVA's seven-state region, with site selection services and incentives for businesses.
state Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Economic Development
A Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway organization providing economic development information, including a Membership Directory and lists of TTW Authority Members and TTW Council Board members.
State sales taxYes
State income taxYes
Right-to-work stateYes

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