Relocation profile · Federal data
Hattiesburg, MS
LiveAbility 63.9/100 places Hattiesburg #19 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 87.6
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,047
- 2BR rent / mo
- $51,744
- Median salary
- 63.9
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Hattiesburg ranks #19 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (63.9/100), with its strongest marks in cost of living and safety.
- #19
- of 387 US metros · Excellent
- 2,943,045
- metro-area population
- 143
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 877
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: job market (1/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Hattiesburg ranks #19 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 87.6 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,047/mo, median salary $51,744; LiveAbility Score 63.9/100, strongest in cost of living and safety.
Signature: LiveAbility 63.9/100 places Hattiesburg #19 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 87.6 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,047/mo.
LiveAbility 63.9/100 puts Hattiesburg in the top third (#19 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Hattiesburg area is 54,020.
Hattiesburg vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
64 Top 5% higher than 95% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Hattiesburg housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Hattiesburg MSA; housing RPP 60.1 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,047/mo.
Hattiesburg wages and employment
Hattiesburg posts 54,020 total employment with median salary $51,744 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $28,410 |
| Registered Nurses | $76,270 |
| Cashiers | $26,040 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,550 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $25,410 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Hattiesburg area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Hattiesburg area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Hattiesburg's composite Life Score is 61.3/100 (C), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Hattiesburg ranks #19 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 63.9/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Hattiesburg - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Cost of living
Cost of living
89 /100
- Safety
Safety
89 /100
- Housing
Housing
88 /100
- Schools
Schools
86 /100
- Climate
Climate
62 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
53 /100
- Air quality 32
Air quality
32 /100
- Job market 1
Job market
1 /100
What this shows Hattiesburg's strongest dimensions are cost of living and safety; its weakest among scored dims is job market at 1/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Hattiesburg to
Metros near Hattiesburg on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Hattiesburg on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Hattiesburg cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Hattiesburg wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Hattiesburg?
Hattiesburg runs a $51,744 median salary at a 87.6 cost index, ranking #19 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Hattiesburg's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Hattiesburg head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Hattiesburg
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.