6 Senior-Friendly Towns In Mississippi
Known for lovely magnolias and beautiful greenery, features that add a delightful ambiance of calm and tranquility to the state, Mississippi’s retirement appeal is uncontested. Plus, the Magnolia State is often ranked among the most affordable states in America, partly because it exempts all retirement income from taxation, including Social Security benefits. Moreover, residents here are mostly friendly, warm, and eager to help. While Mississippi is star-studded with towns that will captivate many empty nesters, the following are some of the most senior-friendly towns in Mississippi.
Ocean Springs
Ranked by Southern Living as the best town in the South for home buying, Ocean Springs should be on the radar of every empty nester. The town’s income-to-home value ratio is 34%, which is better than the national average by six percentage points. Income-to-Home-Value Ratio is the fraction of home value that can be paid by annual income, and higher values indicate greater affordability. Home to about 18,300 residents, Ocean Springs is a buzzy town full of desirable amenities. Hospitals in the area include Merit Health Biloxi, which can be accessed in a heartbeat across the Biloxi Bridge, and Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, recognized for America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Prostate Surgery Award.
The town’s median age is 41, where many believe life starts, and residents aged 60 and above comprise 27% of the population. A retiree here will enjoy several attractions, including the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center, Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival, reputed to be Mississippi’s largest art and food event, and the scenic Live Oaks Bicycle Route, a round-trip path through the lush, shaded greenways of Ocean Springs. Then, there is the Davis Bayou Area Gulf Islands National Seashore, where one can watch dolphins playing and eating. The median listing home price in Ocean Springs is $298,900.
West Point
A small, safe town with an interesting history, West Point is slow-paced, calm, and mostly quiet: attributes that endear it to empty nesters. Howlin' Wolf, one of the giants of post-World War II Chicago blues, was born just north of West Point. Also, West Point is the birthplace of Bryan Foods, a famous American meat company founded in 1936, which is no longer in business. The median listing home price in West Point is just $169,000. Even by Mississippi standards, this price point is hard to beat. If under the weather, North Mississippi Medical Center is right in town. The hospital is affiliated with North Mississippi Health Services, a previous recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Mississippi State University, which provides tuition waivers to residents ages 60 and above, is close to Starkville, just 16 miles from West Point.
On the social scene, West Point’s median age is a bubbly 37. Still, residents aged 60 and above comprise 27% of the town’s population. The town is also incredibly diverse, with Whites and Blacks comprising 34% and 65% of the population, respectively. Then again, West Point hosts Mossy Oaks and Old Waverly golf clubs, some of the finest courses in Mississippi. Finally, the Prairie Arts Festival brightens the town every summer and has been commemorating the area's artistic heritage for well over 40 years.
Long Beach
A retiree in Long Beach will be close to the ocean and will enjoy a full plate of offerings, including nice restaurants, safe neighborhoods, and small-town hospitality. Also, Long Beach provides top-notch access to big-city amenities as Gulfport, Mississippi’s second-largest city, is just 4 miles down the road. On a slow Sunday, one can sit down to a delicious meal of fried oysters with catfish at the Harbor View Cafe, a culinary delight famous for its cool waterfront views. Alternatively, Long Beach Market & Deli serves taste-bud-tingling spring rolls. Moreover, an empty nester can stretch her legs at the St Patrick City Park — or take grandkids to the Parque Infantil, a fantastic little park with plenty of space.
On healthcare access, Gulfport hosts many excellent hospitals, including Memorial Hospital, which is recognized for America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Prostate Surgery Award. The town’s median age is a sweet and calm 41, and residents aged 60 and above comprise 30% of the population. If you are keen on owning property in Long Beach, you do not have to break the bank. The median listing home price in Long Beach is just $290,000.
Madison
No retiree wants to settle in a town where their purse is snatched every other afternoon and where they have to constantly glance over her shoulder to ensure their safety. Fortunately, Safewise ranks Madison as the safest city in Mississippi after Petal. For this alone, it serves as a perfect retirement venue. But that is not all Madison offers. An empty nester here will enjoy great shopping options, including at venues such as the Madison Market Place, which features a nice selection of shops and food places. Once in a while, one can sit down to a filling and affordable meal at El Ranchito, which offers Tex-Mex at its finest.
Madison is also conveniently close to Jackson, Mississippi’s largest city. In just 20 minutes, an empty nester can be in the waiting room of Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, a 2024 recipient of the Outpatient Joint Replacement Excellence Award. Outdoor venues include the Barnett Reservoir, Central Mississippi's largest recreational area and one of Mississippi's most sought-after residential locations. Others include Strawberry Patch Park, which features a short but beautiful walking trail.
Moreover, Jackson State University has a campus in Madison, adding an air of vitality to the town’s social scene. While the town’s median age is 38, residents aged 60 and above comprise 21% of the population. The median listing home price in Madison is $497,900.
Diamondhead
While there are no diamonds in Diamondhead ( the town was named as such because the land is the highest point of elevation on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast) — Diamondhead is a jewel and a precious stone in almost every other sense of the word. Offering residents a rural feel, Diamondhead brims with fun outdoor sites, including pools, golf courses (The Club at Diamondhead offers two championship golf courses), and scenic walking trails. The Twin Lakes Pavilion and Park, for example, features a little walkway trail and a small pier to fish off of. If you are feeling unwell, Diamondhead hosts numerous medical facilities that will be handy.
Alternatively, Ochsner Health Center-Hancock, located in Bay Saint Louis, has served the community since 1960. The best part about retiring here is that the median age is 50, and residents aged 60 and above comprise 37% of the population. Home prices are not over the roof either since the town’s median listing home price is just $270,000.
Pass Christian
A dainty town of just about 6,000 residents, Pass Christian is a nice beach town with scenic countryside moments away from a thriving waterfront city. Nicknamed The Pass, this town is part of the Gulfport-Biloxi Metropolitan Statistical Area. A retiree will be a heartbeat away from some of the best beaches in Coastal Mississippi. For instance, Henderson Point Beach is often delightfully peaceful and quiet, partly because it is a bit hidden. Other delicious outdoor venues include War Memorial Park, which has a sand pit where one can dig for dinosaur bones. That said, one of Pass Christian’s most unique offerings is the GunHo Indoor Shooting Range, possibly the first full-service indoor shooting range on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
The town’s median age is a mellow 41, and residents aged 60 and above comprise 28% of the population. In March 2024, Pass Christian's median listing home price was $419,900. Finally, Pass Christian is conveniently close to Gulfport and, hence, provides access to top-notch hospitals such as the Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, which is recognized among America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Prostate Surgery Award.
Known for miles of powder-soft beachfront and acres of charming Southern foliage, Mississippi’s retirement appeal is over the top. It is also among the most affordable — if not the most affordable state in the nation. The state’s median home listing price is a low of 289,900. Then again, Mississippi exempts all retirement income from taxation, including Social Security benefits. If seeking a suitable spot to spend the golden years, towns such as Ocean Springs, West Point, and Long Beach check almost every box and are worth considering.
