As the second-largest city in Mississippi, Hattiesburg is an urban hub of southern charm, affordable Mississippi real estate, and a steady economy. Hattiesburg is home to the University of Southern Mississippi, making it an active southern city without the sheer size (or traffic) of somewhere like Atlanta or Birmingham. If you’ve been searching for homes for sale in Mississippi, but haven’t settled on a city yet, here are 5 reasons to relocate to Hattiesburg.
Affordable Cost Of Living
One of the top reasons to relocate to Hattiesburg is because they can experience convenience and accessibility without it costing an arm and a leg. Mississippi’s cost of living is lower than the United States average by a mighty 15%! Even though Hattiesburg has a higher cost of living than several places in Mississippi, things like groceries, transportation, and Hattiesburg real estate will burn a smaller hole in your pocket than most other cities in the country.
The median listing price for Hattiesburg homes for sale is $225K, but there is a wide variety of price points for real estate in the area. You can find affordable homes in the East Jerusalem neighborhood for as low as $80K, or you can find Hattiesburg townhomes for sale in University Heights for an average of $270K.
Urban Living In a Southern State
A lot of people don’t think about a sprawling urban metropolis when they envision Mississippi; while that is a reasonable presumption, Hattiesburg is as close as Mississippi comes to an urban hub. Between the influx of families moving here and the two colleges serving the area, the amount of amenities has become a top reason for relocating to Hattiesburg.
One of the main ways you’ll spend your time in Hattiesburg is eating good, old-fashioned, southern cuisine. Chef and author Robert St. John has about 7 restaurants in Hattiesburg, and each one will blow your mind more than the last. Crescent City Grill, Tabella, and El Rayo Tex-Mex are just a few local favorites. When you’re full from a delicious meal, head to Live at Five for local and national artists playing live music. If you want a more cultural experience, Hattiesburg is home to a number of museums and galleries, including the Pocket Museum, which displays interactive local art displays in a “secret” alleyway.
For a larger event, HUBFEST is Hattiesburg’s premier arts and music festival, bringing in 30,000 visitors each year to downtown Hattiesburg. With that said, Hattiesburg offers an abundance of ways to spend your time, all while preserving the southern charm the area has always held dear.
It’s a Central “Hub”
Hattiesburg’s convenient location puts residents an hour and a half from Mississippi’s capital, Jackson, an hour and a half from the gulf coast, an hour and a half from Mobile, AL, and 2 hours from New Orleans, LA. Whether you enjoy going on weekend excursions for fun or commute to other cities frequently for business, Hattiesburg is a true “Hub City” that is easy to take off from. Its close access to Highway 158 and Interstate 59 is a big reason why people are relocating to Hattiesburg.
Old-School College Town Atmosphere
Not only does Hattiesburg being a “college town” mean that there is a high amount of activity in the area, it means that there are plenty of activities to keep anyone occupied. The biggest college here is the University of Southern Mississippi, and the football scene alone is enough to convince people to relocate to Hattiesburg. There’s always a game to catch, a performance to watch, or a gallery to browse at the university, and being a supporter of Southern Miss is something that most (if not all) locals will have in common.
Don’t get it twisted, though. Just because Hattiesburg is bustling with college students doesn’t mean it’s packed with partying and noise pollution 24/7. University of Southern Miss culture is pretty tame, with most of the rowdiness being contained in the football stadium.
Strong Job Opportunities
With an impressively low unemployment rate of 3.25%, a great reason to relocate to Hattiesburg is the diverse economy and job opportunities. In fact, Hattiesburg was ranked number 2 in the nation for job growth in 2021, and it continues to trend upward. The biggest industries in Hattiesburg are hospitality, manufacturing, and trade and transportation. Following closely, the healthcare sector in Hattiesburg offers a number of career opportunities in the nursing field, with Forrest General Hospital being the 4th-best hospital in Coastal Mississippi.
A growing sector in Hattiesburg’s economy is high-tech thanks to the University of Southern Mississippi. The Garden is a research and commercialization park with a number of high-tech research facilities, and The Accelerator is a $28M, 60,000 square-foot state-of-the-art- high-tech incubator. Both of these factors increase the high-tech industry’s presence in Hattiesburg greatly, paving the way for even more innovation in the future.
Hattiesburg is an Excellent Retirement City
If you are looking for an active, yet moderately-paced, community to retire in, Hattiesburg is one of the best options for you. The charming roads of Hattiesburg are lined with historic homes and shaded streets where sidewalks provide the capability of going on a dreamy stroll. Due to the two colleges in the area, Hattiesburg also grants easy access to day-to-day errands like grocery stores, barber shops, retail shops, and dry cleaners.
One of the best local spots to get active throughout the day is the Canebrake Golf Community. With golf courses, full-service salons and spas, pools, a fitness center, and several dining venues, Canebrake is a great place to live out your retirement. If this community doesn’t suit you, there are 3 other golf clubs in Hattiesburg to choose from.
FAQs About Hattiesburg, MS
Are there condos for sale in Hattiesburg?
While there aren’t a lot of condos in Hattiesburg, University Heights does offer several townhome communities close to the University of Southern Mississippi. If you are opting out of a single-family home in Hattiesburg, townhomes would be your next best option.
What are some fun facts about Hattiesburg?
- Brett Favre, a former quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, lives right here in Hattiesburg! Favre played in the NFL for 20 consecutive seasons and started 321 consecutive games, the most in league history.
- Camp Shelby is one of the largest National Guard training bases East of the Mississippi River, and it’s located in Hattiesburg. This 134K-acre facility supports battalion-level maneuver training and has a wide range of other world-renowned training facilities.
- Hattiesburg is a spot on the Mississippi Blues Trail, thanks to a number of famous blues artists that lived in the city.
- In the late 19th century, Hattiesburg enacted an ordinance forbidding wooden structures after 26 businesses burned down in 1893, an ordinance that still stands today.
Is Hattiesburg a good place to live?
Hattiesburg is noted as one of the top places to retire in Mississippi AND the United States, with a thriving healthcare system, a strong military presence, low cost of living, easy access to amenities, and a moderate climate.
Top 5 Reasons to Relocate to Hattiesburg, MS
There are a number of excellent reasons to relocate to Hattiesburg, and we hope this article helps you in deciding where to buy your next home. If you’re looking for a bigger and more sprawling metropolis than Hattiesburg, check out the top reasons to relocate to Atlanta, and make sure to ask a local real estate agent to help you lock down your dream house.
