City profile · Mississippi · Census ACS 2023

Hernando, MS

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Hernando - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

17,580
Residents
$71,451
Median income
$282,200
Median home
$1,274
Median rent (state)

Hernando - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Hernando lands in the 52nd percentile for household income and the 83rd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

52nd
percentile, household income
62nd
percentile, home value
44th
percentile, median rent
83rd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Hernando, MS

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 17,580 residents in Hernando, a small town within Mississippi. Hernando households earn a median of $71,451 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.3%. Typical homes in Hernando are valued around $282,200, and the median resident age is 38.9 years. About 35.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 59.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 142 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 34% from five years earlier. Hernando reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 565.2 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 61.2°F with 56.5 inches of precipitation per year and 1.9 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Mississippi run below the national norm: the state registers 87.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,274 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Mississippi run around $223, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 89.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

17,580 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Mississippi

Median Household Income

$71,451 /yr

Poverty 9.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.0 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Mississippi average

How does Hernando compare to other US cities?

Here's how Hernando stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 52% higher than other cities
Home value 62% pricier than other cities
Median rent 44% pricier than other cities
Safety 83% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Mississippi, Hernando ranks #5 of 56 Mississippi cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Hernando's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Mississippi, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

52ndIncome percentile
83rdSafety percentile

52nd percentile nationally for median household income · 83rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Hernando's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Hernando's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 61 Avg. percentile National median
Hernando's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Hernando's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$282,200 38th percentile more affordable than 38% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Hernando $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Hernando, MS Hernando, MS's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Hernando, MS-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Hernando, MS median $71,451/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Hernando, MS's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Hernando, MS. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 35.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 59.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
17,580
Median Income
$71,451
Median Home Value
$282,200
Median Age
38.9
Poverty Rate
9.3%
Labor force participation
59.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
35.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
565.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
91.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
473.7
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
61.2°F
Annual Precipitation
56.5"
Annual Snowfall
1.9"

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
17,000 residents17,500 residents18,000 residents18,500 residents19,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 17,272 residents 18,824 residents ▲ +9.0%
Hernando's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
142
housing units authorized
Single-Family
142
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
8.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 214
2020 164
2021 273
2022 134
2023 102
2024 142

Permit volume decreased 34% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.6%
Carpool
7.5%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
0.4%
Work from Home
8.7%
Other
1.5%

Based on 7,985 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Mississippi - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$135
avg/month
Natural Gas
$50
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$38
avg/month
Total Utilities
$223
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Mississippi state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Mississippi state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Hernando sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.0
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,274/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
89.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Mississippi

Laurel
17,129 people
Long Beach
16,876 people
Ocean Springs
18,561 people
Gautier
19,026 people
Corinth
14,450 people
Clarksdale
14,423 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Hernando's 17,580 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bryn Mawr-Skyway, WA
17,577 people
Lebanon, IN
17,575 people
New Philadelphia, OH
17,563 people
South Ogden, UT
17,563 people
Goodlettsville, TN
17,598 people
Buford, GA
17,611 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Hernando's $71,451 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Oak City, UT
$71,452 median income
Fair Grove, MO
$71,447 median income
Perley, MN
$71,458 median income
Bear Dance, MT
$71,458 median income
Custer City, OK
$71,458 median income
Crafton, PA
$71,458 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Hernando, MS Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Hernando, MS - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 78.3% 15.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.8% White 78.3% Black or African American 15.0% Asian 1.1% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.7% Two or more races 3.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Hernando compares to nearby Mississippi cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Hernando (this city) 17,580 $71,451
Laurel 17,129 $37,781
Long Beach 16,876 $71,121
Ocean Springs 18,561 $78,929
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MS FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Hernando, MS?

What is the population of Hernando, MS? +

Hernando, MS counts 17,580 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Hernando, MS? +

The median household income in Hernando is $71,451 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Hernando? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Hernando; the closest available measure is the Mississippi state average, a cost of living index of 87.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Mississippi vary by metro area.

Is Hernando, MS safe? +

Hernando has a total crime rate of 565.2 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Hernando, MS? +

Hernando's median home value sits at $282,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Hernando? +

The average annual temperature in Hernando runs 61.2°F, 56.5 inches of precipitation, and 1.9 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.