Starkville, MS
Census place 2870240 · pop 25,721
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.57 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
33.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
30.7% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$42,125 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
84.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
18.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2044 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
29.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
+1.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
10.7% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
36.0% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
13.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$299,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
3.7% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.87% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,636/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
20 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
70/100 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.
U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities
83 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
50.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Not measured for Starkville: Air, Bad air. 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 Starkville, MS a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Starkville scores 44/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is bachelor's degree or higher and its weakest is income inequality. 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 Starkville, MS?
- Starkville reports 83 violent crimes per 100k and 2044 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Starkville, MS expensive to live in?
- Starkville has a median home value of $299,900 and typical rent around $1,636/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Starkville, MS?
- Its weakest measured area is income inequality (0.57) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Starkville, MS best at?
- Its strongest measured area is bachelor's degree or higher (50.5%) — 82/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Home of Mississippi State University and its mascot, the Bulldogs.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.