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CITY · 2020 ACS

Petal

Mississippi · 11,010 residents · 16.908 sq mi
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The short version

Petal has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $57,565. Population has grown 45% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $136,900.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 36.1
US median: 38.8
Average education
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 54%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,010
+45%since 2000
from 7,579 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
651 / sq mi
+45%since 2000
from 448 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
36.1
+5%since 2000
from 34.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
7K8K9K11K12K1990201020202024Petal
202411K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$57,565
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,637 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,520
+82%since 2000
from $13,996 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
32.6%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 25.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
13.6%
−1.4 ptssince 2000
from 15.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information10.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade9.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade8.6%
US avg: 10%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration4.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.5%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.5%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing2.2%
US avg: 0.5%
Professional, scientific, technical2.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 2%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$136,900
+54%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$839
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $450 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
70.9%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 68.9% in 2000
29.1% rent
Afford Score
2.4
+19%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2020
White, non-Hispanic74.5%(8,198)
Black14.6%(1,602)
Hispanic / Latino5.6%(614)
Asian0.8%(85)
Other1.6%(171)
Diversity Score47.9%(5,278)
Diversity Score
48
+238%since 2000
from 14 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
34.0%
+16.0 ptssince 2000
from 17.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
90.8%
+11.0 ptssince 2000
from 79.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
14.2%
+8.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.4 min
+79%since 2000
from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 83.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
3.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.3%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
63.5%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 65.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
41.5%
−21.7 ptssince 2009
from 63.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.1%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
Female
51.9%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 54.5% in 2009
Foreign born
3.5%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
9.2%
−74.4 ptssince 2013
from 83.6% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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$46,342−19%
Home value$165,900+21%
Population48,802+317%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PETAL VS
Laurel
Income$47,661−17%
Home value$125,800−8%
Population17,662+51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PETAL VS
Bogalusa
Income$30,749−47%
Home value$97,600−29%
Population10,321−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PETAL VS
Picayune
Income$41,213−28%
Home value$157,100+15%
Population12,019+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Petal, Mississippi?

Petal, Mississippi has about 11,010 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Petal, Mississippi?

The typical household in Petal, Mississippi earns about $57,565 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 $136,900, and the typical rent is about $839 a month.

How educated are people in Petal, Mississippi?

About 34.0% 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 13.6% 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 3,127 residents, a change of about 40 percent over that period.

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

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