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CITY

Petal

Mississippi · 11,694 residents (2025 est.) · 16.908 sq mi
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The short version

Petal has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $74,750. Population has grown 49% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $174,900. Households here earn about 32% more than the Mississippi median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 62%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,294
+49%since 2000
from 7,579 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
668 / sq mi
+49%since 2000
from 448 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.0
+7%since 2000
from 34.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:11,694 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K8K9K11K12K1990201020202024Petal
202411K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$74,750
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,637 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,999
+121%since 2000
from $13,996 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
49.7%
+23.9 ptssince 2009
from 25.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.1%
−3.9 ptssince 2000
from 15.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.405
+2%since 2010
from 0.397 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade7.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing0.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$174,900
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,047
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $450 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 68.9% in 2000
30.0% rent
Vacancy rate
7.7%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
11.2%
−13.2 ptssince 2009
from 24.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.0%
+9.7 ptssince 2009
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+17%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in Petal on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93%(7,050)
Black4.4%(332)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(109)
Asian0.1%(6)
Other0%
Diversity Score14.2%(1,075)
2024
White, non-Hispanic72.8%(8,217)
Black16.1%(1,823)
Hispanic / Latino5.5%(616)
Asian1.7%(195)
Other3.9%(443)
Diversity Score55%(6,209)
Diversity Score
55
+287%since 2000
from 14 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.8%
+9.9 ptssince 2000
from 17.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.8%
+12.0 ptssince 2000
from 79.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.5 min
+64%since 2000
from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.2%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 83.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.1%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.0%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.6%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.4%
−5.4 ptssince 2011
from 65.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.1%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.9%
−24.3 ptssince 2009
from 63.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
Female
53.2%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 54.5% in 2009
Foreign born
3.4%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.9%
−36.2 ptssince 2009
from 44.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2012
from 19.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.5%
−73.1 ptssince 2013
from 83.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.8%
+9.2 ptssince 2017
from 78.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 95.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 4.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Petal

Middleburg
Pop 11,644
Milton
Pop 11,440
Gulfport
Pop 11,404
Bee Ridge
Pop 10,334
Places similar to Petal
Head to head

Compare Petal to nearby cities

PETAL VS
Hattiesburg
Income$46,342−38%
Home value$165,900−5%
Population48,802+317%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PETAL VS
Laurel
Income$47,661−36%
Home value$125,800−28%
Population17,662+51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PETAL VS
Bogalusa
Income$30,749−59%
Home value$97,600−44%
Population10,321−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PETAL VS
Picayune
Income$41,213−45%
Home value$157,100−10%
Population12,019+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Petal, Mississippi?

Petal, Mississippi has about 11,294 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Petal, Mississippi?

The typical household in Petal, Mississippi earns about $74,750 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Petal, Mississippi expensive?

In Petal, Mississippi, the median home is worth about $174,900, and the typical rent is about $1,047 a month.

How educated are people in Petal, Mississippi?

About 27.8% of adults age 25 and over in Petal, Mississippi hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Petal, Mississippi?

About 11.1% of people in Petal, Mississippi live below the federal poverty line.

Has Petal, Mississippi grown since 1990?

Yes, Petal, Mississippi has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,411 residents, a change of about 43 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →