City profile · Mississippi · Census ACS 2023

Pearl, MS

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

27,458
Residents
$54,643
Median income
$170,900
Median home
$1,288
Median rent (state)

Pearl - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Pearl places in the 27th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

27th
percentile, household income
34th
percentile, home value
45th
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: Pearl, MS

27,458 people live in Pearl, Mississippi - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $54,643 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.2%. Typical homes in Pearl are valued around $170,900, and the median resident age is 36.6 years. 26.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 64.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 167 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 174% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Mississippi run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Mississippi at 87.0 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,288 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $223 across Mississippi, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for Pearl workers runs 23.2 minutes, with 81.6% driving alone and 6.2% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 85.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

27,458 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Mississippi

Median Household Income

$54,643 /yr

Poverty 9.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.0 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Mississippi average

How does Pearl compare to other US cities?

Pearl measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 27% higher than other cities
Home value 34% pricier than other cities
Median rent 45% 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 Pearl'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.

27thIncome percentile

27th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Pearl's home value compares nationally

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

$170,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 66% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Pearl $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 - Pearl, MS Pearl, MS's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Pearl, 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 Pearl, MS median $54,643/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%
Pearl, 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 Pearl, MS. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 26.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.8%

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

Population
27,458
Median Income
$54,643
Median Home Value
$170,900
Median Age
36.6
Poverty Rate
9.2%
Labor force participation
64.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
26.3%

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
26,000 residents27,000 residents28,000 residents29,000 residents30,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 27,089 residents 28,864 residents ▲ +6.6%
Pearl's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
167
housing units authorized
Single-Family
167
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 61
2020 83
2021 151
2022 138
2023 129
2024 167

Permit volume increased 174% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
23.2 minutes
Drive Alone
81.6%
Carpool
10.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
6.2%

Based on 14,516 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 Pearl sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.0
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,288/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
85.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Mississippi

Clinton
27,418 people
Madison
27,775 people
Horn Lake
26,622 people
Oxford
26,086 people
Greenville
28,833 people
Starkville
25,611 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Pearl's 27,458 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

New Lenox, IL
27,456 people
Athens, AL
27,474 people
Kernersville, NC
27,439 people
Millville, NJ
27,432 people
Lemon Grove, CA
27,489 people
Bristol, TN
27,490 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Pearl's $54,643 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bodcaw, AR
$54,643 median income
Farmington, IA
$54,643 median income
Jasper, MI
$54,643 median income
Westhope, ND
$54,643 median income
White Haven, PA
$54,643 median income
Guthrie, OK
$54,640 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Pearl, 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 Pearl, MS - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 60.1% 29.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.7% White 60.1% Black or African American 29.5% Asian 2.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.7% Some other race 4.3% Two or more races 3.1% 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 Pearl 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
Pearl (this city) 27,458 $54,643
Clinton 27,418 $70,913
Madison 27,775 $120,918
Horn Lake 26,622 $56,847
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MS NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Pearl, MS?

What is the population of Pearl, MS? +

Pearl, MS counts 27,458 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Pearl households earn a median of $54,643 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Pearl? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Pearl; 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 Pearl, MS? +

The median home value in Pearl is $170,900, 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 Editorial

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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.