City profile · Mississippi · Census ACS 2023

Meridian, MS

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

34,466
Residents
$34,657
Median income
$100,800
Median home
$906
Median rent (state)

Meridian - the verdict

Meridian ranks in the 4th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

4th
percentile, household income
10th
percentile, home value
5th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Meridian, MS

Mississippi's Meridian is a small city, with 34,466 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Meridian brings in $34,657 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 27.4%. Home values in Meridian run a median of $100,800, and the median resident age is 39.4 years. 20.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 50.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 7 residential building permits were authorized in Meridian (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $906 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $223 across Mississippi, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Meridian report an average commute of 18.0 minutes, with 80.5% driving alone and 4.1% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 87.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

34,466 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Mississippi

Median Household Income

$34,657 /yr

Poverty 27.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.0 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Mississippi average

How does Meridian compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 4% higher than other cities
Home value 10% pricier than other cities
Median rent 5% pricier than other cities

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

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 Meridian'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.

4thIncome percentile

4th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Meridian's home value compares nationally

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

$100,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 90% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $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. Meridian $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 - Meridian, MS Meridian, MS's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Meridian, 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 Meridian, MS median $34,657/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%
Meridian, 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 Meridian, MS. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 27.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.2%

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

Population
34,466
Median Income
$34,657
Median Home Value
$100,800
Median Age
39.4
Poverty Rate
27.4%
Labor force participation
50.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.7%

Schools

Total Schools
18
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
33,000 residents33,500 residents34,000 residents34,500 residents35,000 residents35,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 34,873 residents 33,370 residents ▼ -4.3%
Meridian's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
7
housing units authorized
Single-Family
7
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 7
2020 7
2021 11
2022 10
2023 7
2024 7

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.0 minutes
Drive Alone
80.5%
Carpool
10.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.4%
Work from Home
4.1%
Other
3.6%

Based on 13,865 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 Meridian sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.0
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$906/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
87.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Mississippi

Tupelo
37,825 people
Greenville
28,833 people
Madison
27,775 people
Pearl
27,458 people
Clinton
27,418 people
Horn Lake
26,622 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Meridian's 34,466 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lewiston, ID
34,471 people
McMinnville, OR
34,493 people
Fairborn, OH
34,506 people
Dalton, GA
34,402 people
College Park, MD
34,397 people
Manitowoc, WI
34,553 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Meridian's $34,657 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Norlina, NC
$34,659 median income
Chiloquin, OR
$34,659 median income
Joaquin, TX
$34,659 median income
Decherd, TN
$34,646 median income
Brookford, NC
$34,643 median income
Briar Creek, PA
$34,643 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Meridian, 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 Meridian, MS - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 30.4% 62.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.0% White 30.4% Black or African American 62.5% Asian 1.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.8% Two or more races 4.2% 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 Meridian 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
Meridian (this city) 34,466 $34,657
Tupelo 37,825 $66,314
Greenville 28,833 $36,297
Madison 27,775 $120,918
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MS NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Meridian, MS?

What is the population of Meridian, MS? +

Meridian, MS has a population of 34,466 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Meridian households earn a median of $34,657 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Meridian? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Meridian; 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.

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

Homes in Meridian carry a median value of $100,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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

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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.