Bay St. Louis, MS

Census place 2803980 · pop 10,188

D50/ 100
😐 Meh
C
in MS
📍 Mississippi ranks #27 of 50 states →
🏆 Bad air0 days · top 15%
🚽 Growth-21.7% · bottom 1%
Taxes
0.76% property · US 0.99%7.06% sales · US 7.00%4.00% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Population growth (5yr)-21.7%0

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-21.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Income inequality0.562

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.56 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Property crime rate2367/100k21

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

2367 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Physical inactivity30.1%25

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

30.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Commute time27 min30

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

27 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Poverty rate14.5%36

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

14.5% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Adult obesity37.1%36

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

37.1% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Adult smoking14.6%37

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

14.6% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Median household income$67,44240

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$67,442 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Broadband access91.1%45

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

91.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level88/10051

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

88/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Air quality (AQI)County-level43 AQI51

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

43 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$260,20055

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$260,200 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Uninsured adults8.9%57

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

8.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Violent crime rate128/100k65

U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities

128 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Bachelor's degree or higher38.3%66

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

38.3% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Property-tax burden0.76%67

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.76% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.2%71

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.2% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Poor mental health15.3%75

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

15.3% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Homeownership76.7%80

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

76.7% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Bay St. Louis: Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Bay St. Louis, MS a good place to live?
By the numbers, Bay St. Louis scores 50/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 21 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unhealthy air days and its weakest is population growth (5yr). Mississippi overall ranks #27 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Bay St. Louis, MS?
Bay St. Louis reports 128 violent crimes per 100k and 2367 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Bay St. Louis, MS expensive to live in?
Bay St. Louis has a median home value of $260,200 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Bay St. Louis, MS?
Its weakest measured area is population growth (5yr) (-21.7%) — 0/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Bay St. Louis, MS best at?
Its strongest measured area is unhealthy air days (0 days) — 85/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.