countyscore
60.7
County Score
Safety 97.5Cost of Living 94.3Disaster Risk 80.5

County Report Card

About Perry County, Mississippi

Exceeding National Expectations

Perry County shines with a composite score of 60.7, significantly outperforming the national median of 50.0. It is one of the higher-rated rural counties in the United States.

A State Leader in Livability

With a score of 60.7, Perry far exceeds the Mississippi state average of 48.4. It ranks as one of the most livable counties in the entire state based on this composite data.

Top-Tier Safety and Affordability

The county features a stellar safety score of 97.5 and a near-perfect cost score of 94.3. High resilience to environmental hazards is also a plus, with a risk score of 80.5.

Room for Health Improvements

Despite its high overall rank, Perry has a low health score of 13.5 and an income score of 15.5. These factors suggest that while the county is safe and cheap, wellness and wealth remain challenges.

The Ultimate Value for Security

Perry County is a premier destination for those seeking the best possible combination of safety and low costs. It offers an incredible quality of life for families who value a secure and affordable home base.

2040608010057.594.397.513.540.415.580.526.329.5Tax57.5Cost94.3Safety97.5Health13.5Schools40.4Income15.5Risk80.5Water26.3Weather29.560.7/100
This county
National avg
3 above average5 below average

Perry County DNA

Doverall

How Perry County compares to the national average across 9 dimensions

Perry County is a tale of two counties — exceptional in Cost of Living (94.3/100) but notably weak in Health (13.5/100). This polarized profile creates distinct trade-offs for residents.

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
57.5
Cost
94.3+46.3
Safety
97.5+42.5
Health
13.5-36.5
Schools
40.4-13.600000000000001
Income
15.5-35.5
Risk
80.5+33.5
Water
26.3-31.7
Weather
29.5-26.5
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Many homeowners in Perry County pay more than they should. A professional appeal could save you hundreds per year.

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Can You Afford to Live Here?

Median Home Price

$126,000

National median: $174,650

Median Rent

$650/mo

National median: $854/mo

Income Needed (home)

$126,000/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$26,000/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum2.5x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $50,435/yr
Compare Mortgage Rates

Economic & Education Snapshot

Primary Care

8.7

per 100K

Data from Federal Reserve (FRED), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and CMS NPPES.

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncome & Jobsincomebycounty.comSafetycrimebycounty.comHealthhealthbycounty.comSchoolsschoolsbycounty.comDisaster Riskriskbycounty.comWater Qualitywaterbycounty.comWeather & Climateweatherbycounty.comSoil Qualitysoilbycounty.comLawn Carelawnbycounty.comFarmers Marketsmarketsbycounty.comView on Mapcountyscore.com/map
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Counties with similar scores

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Nearby counties

Greene County
Mississippi
55
Forrest County
Mississippi
30.3
George County
Mississippi
40.5
Stone County
Mississippi
38.6
Lamar County
Mississippi
47.6
Jones County
Mississippi
40.7
Wayne County
Mississippi
41.9
Pearl River County
Mississippi
42.5

Deep Dives

Perry County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 11 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Perry County

via TaxByCounty

Perry County taxes run below average

Perry County's effective tax rate of 0.752% sits below the national median of roughly 0.95%, placing it in the lower-tax half nationally. Homeowners here benefit from a meaningful tax advantage compared to most U.S. counties.

Mid-tier for Mississippi

At 0.752%, Perry's effective rate runs 1.2% below Mississippi's 0.743% state average, ranking it among the lower-tax counties statewide. The county's median tax of $947 sits just above the state median of $931.

Competitive with region

Perry's 0.752% rate undercuts Montgomery (0.896%) and Neshoba (0.886%) while sitting between Panola (0.769%) and Newton (0.799%) regionally. It avoids the extreme burden of Noxubee (1.011%) and stays above Pearl River's low of 0.677%.

Modest annual tax on median home

On Perry's median home value of $126,000, homeowners pay approximately $947 per year—or roughly $79 monthly. With a mortgage, escrow payments typically total around $1,280 annually.

Double-check your assessment value

Perry County residents should verify their assessment accuracy by comparing their assessed value to recent sales of similar homes in the neighborhood. Filing a reassessment appeal is straightforward and can save hundreds if your property is overvalued.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Perry County

via CostByCounty

Perry County delivers exceptional affordability

Perry County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.5% is the best in this eight-county comparison and substantially beats the national average. With a median household income of $50,435 and median rent at just $650, residents here spend the smallest share of income on housing.

Perry ranks among Mississippi's most affordable

At 15.5%, Perry County's rent-to-income ratio decisively beats Mississippi's state average of 19.6%, making it one of the state's genuinely affordable counties. The median rent of $650 is among the lowest in this comparison, yet paired with solid median income of $50,435.

The most affordable in the regional cluster

Perry's $650 rent is cheaper than all neighboring counties in this comparison, trailing only Noxubee's $590—but Perry pairs this with higher median income ($50,435 vs. $38,814). Perry offers the best balance of low rents and reasonable earning potential.

Perry's housing math is exceptional

Households earn $50,435 annually and pay just $650 in median rent—15.5% of income, the lowest burden in this entire comparison. Homeowners enjoy even greater relief at $474 monthly, with a median home value of $126,000 offering genuine path to ownership.

Perry offers unbeatable housing value

Perry County delivers Mississippi's best combination: affordable $650 rent, reasonable $50,435 median income, and a 15.5% housing burden that leaves substantial resources for other needs. If cost-effective housing with decent earning potential matters, Perry stands alone among these eight counties.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Perry County

via IncomeByCounty

Perry lags nation's income by 33%

Perry County's median household income of $50,435 reaches 67% of the national median of $74,755, a gap typical of rural counties in the Southeast. The county's income reflects limited high-wage employment and reliance on smaller-scale businesses and agriculture.

Nearly matches Mississippi average

At $50,435, Perry County exceeds Mississippi's state median of $48,514 by about 4%, placing it in the middle tier of the state's 82 counties. The county's per capita income of $25,950 falls slightly below the state average of $27,136.

Solid middle-income performer

Perry County's $50,435 median nearly matches Newton County ($50,426) and trails Neshoba County ($53,087) by just $2,652. The county outpaces Montgomery County ($45,057), Noxubee County ($38,814), and Panola County ($43,990).

Lowest housing burden in cohort

Perry County's 15.5% rent-to-income ratio is the lowest among these eight counties, indicating strong housing affordability. The median home value of $126,000 is accessible to families earning near the county median, with substantial equity-building potential.

Build on housing affordability

Perry County's unusually low housing cost burden—just 15.5% of income—frees up cash for savings and investments. Maximize this advantage by automating transfers to savings accounts and exploring employer retirement plans; local libraries often host free financial literacy workshops.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Safety in Perry County

via CrimeByCounty

Perry County Reports Top-Tier Safety Score

Perry County reports a perfect safety score of 100.0, with a crime rate of 0.0 per 100K in 2022. This is exceptionally low compared to the national total crime rate of 2,385.5 per 100K.

Perry County Safety Trends in Mississippi

This score places Perry County above the state average of 98.4 and makes it one of Mississippi's safest-rated counties. Two agencies provided the data that supports this high safety ranking.

Perry County Compared to Nearby Districts

Compared to Pearl River County’s rate of 1,366.4, Perry County shows virtually no recorded criminal activity. This suggests a very quiet environment for its residents and business owners.

Breakdown of Perry County's Reported Statistics

With 0.0 violent and property crimes reported, the county stays far below the national violent crime average of 369.8. While these numbers are excellent, they may reflect limited reporting in the most recent data cycle.

Maintaining a Safe Environment in Perry County

Maintaining a secure home is still important even when reported crime is non-existent. Simple steps like installing deadbolts and keeping exterior areas well-lit ensure the county remains a safe place to live.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Schools in Perry County

via SchoolsByCounty

High-Performing Rural Education in Perry

Perry County operates eight public schools, including three elementary and four high school campuses. Two school districts serve the county's total enrollment of 1,530 students.

Exceptional Investment and Academic Scores

The county invests a notable $7,186 per student, well above the Mississippi average of $5,954. This funding correlates with a strong 87.6% graduation rate and a school score of 52.7, which is among the highest in the state.

Perry County and Richton School Districts

The Perry County School District manages six schools and 933 students, while the Richton School District serves 597 students. There are no charter schools, keeping the focus on these two high-performing public systems.

A Completely Rural School Setting

All eight schools in the county are classified as rural, creating a close-knit and intimate learning atmosphere. The average school size is just 255 students, with Richton High School being the largest at 299 students.

Find Your Home in Perry’s Rural Districts

For families seeking high per-pupil investment and a rural feel, Perry County is an ideal choice. Exploring homes in the Richton area provides access to some of the county's top-performing educational facilities.

Full schools analysis on SchoolsByCounty

Disaster Risk in Perry County

via RiskByCounty

Perry ranks among safest U.S. counties

Perry's composite score of 19.50 with Very Low rating places it well below typical American county risk exposure. Your community enjoys substantially lower natural disaster threat than most U.S. locations.

Among Mississippi's safest counties

At 19.50, Perry ranks well below Mississippi's 50.94 state average, placing it among the state's lowest-risk communities. Your county benefits from relatively protected status within Mississippi.

Safer than all surrounding counties

Perry (19.50) ranks lower in risk than every adjacent county including Panola (69.21), Neshoba (58.27), and Newton (52.45). Only Montgomery (10.91) achieves comparable safety levels in the region.

Wildfire and hurricane represent secondary concerns

Despite your low overall score, wildfire (70.61) and hurricane (80.68) rank as your highest individual hazards, though they remain regional outliers. Tornado exposure at 44.27 and flood at 23.60 pose minimal threat.

Standard homeowners insurance provides solid base

Your Very Low risk rating means basic homeowners coverage adequately protects against your area's modest hazard profile. Given your wildfire score of 70.61, ensure your policy covers brush and debris removal, and maintain defensible space around your home.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

Water Quality in Perry County

via WaterByCounty

Perry County Faces Significant Compliance Hurdles

Perry County receives a Grade F for drinking water compliance, recording 8 health violations over the past five years. The violation rate of 82.6 per 100,000 people is one of the highest in the region, though still under the state average of 92.1. This failing grade highlights an urgent need for infrastructure and monitoring improvements.

Environmental Health Data Gap in Local Watersheds

The water bodies within Perry County are currently not assessed under the Clean Water Act §303(d) federal standards. No data is available for this reporting cycle regarding the percentage of impaired streams or primary pollutants. This lack of assessment limits the visibility of local ecological stressors.

Robust Chemical Tracking Across Nine Sites

Perry County has one of the most active monitoring footprints in the area, with 2,787 measurements across 9 sites. These records provide extensive data on physical properties, nutrients, and inorganic metals. This deep well of data is a vital resource for tracking the environmental impact of local industry and runoff.

Leaf River Experiences Major Flow Surge

The Leaf River near New Augusta is flowing at 9,300 cfs, which is 247% of its typical long-term mean. This massive volume of water drains a 2,542-square-mile area and reflects significant regional hydrological activity. High flows of this magnitude can alter river channels and impact downstream water quality.

Urgent Action Recommended for Perry Residents

The combination of a Grade F compliance rating and very high river flow creates a challenging environment for clean water. Residents should utilize high-quality water filtration and stay informed about potential contaminants like metals and nutrients identified in local monitoring. Regular private testing is highly recommended given the high violation rate.

Full water quality analysis on WaterByCounty

Weather & Climate in Perry County

via WeatherByCounty

Hotter Than Most of the Nation

Perry County averages 66.3°F annually, which is over 12 degrees warmer than the national median temperature. The climate is characterized by intense solar exposure and high moisture levels.

One of Mississippi's Warmest Counties

At 66.3°F, Perry County is notably warmer than the Mississippi state average of 63.9°F. It ranks as one of the state's hotter regions, particularly during the peak of summer.

More Extreme Heat Than Local Neighbors

Perry County endures 113 extreme heat days annually, far surpassing the 78 days seen in neighboring Pearl River County. Despite the heat, it receives 63.9 inches of rain, keeping the landscape lush and humid.

Over 100 Days of Triple-Digit Heat

Summer dominates the calendar with 113 days reaching at least 90°F and a July average of 82.1°F. Winters are brief and mild, averaging 50.6°F with only 0.5 inches of snow.

Hydration and High Cooling Demands

The extreme count of 113 heat days requires residents to prioritize hydration and limit outdoor activity in the afternoons. High-performance insulation helps mitigate the energy costs associated with the long, hot summers.

Full weather & climate analysis on WeatherByCounty

Soil Quality in Perry County

via SoilByCounty

Extremely Acidic Coastal Soil

Perry County has an acidic profile with a 4.90 pH, trailing both the state average of 5.30 and the 6.5 national median. This low pH is characteristic of the sandy coastal plains of southern Mississippi.

Loose and Well-Aerated Sand

The soil is quite sandy at 58.5%, with a low 10.0% clay content. This makes for a loose, well-aerated soil structure that is easy to work but prone to drying out quickly compared to siltier neighbors.

Exceptional Organic Levels

The organic matter level is remarkably high at 2.97%, nearly 50% higher than the national average. However, the available water capacity of 0.144 in/in is the lowest in this group, falling well below the state average.

Drying Out Fast in the Sun

Official drainage classes are not listed, but the 58.5% sand content points toward very rapid drainage. This prevents most issues with root rot but necessitates frequent watering for vegetables and flowers.

Thriving Pine and Camellia Grounds

Hardiness zone 8b supports a vast array of plants, especially those that love acidic, well-drained ground like camellias and pine trees. Add plenty of mulch to your garden beds to help capture and hold onto water in this sandy soil.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Perry County

via LawnByCounty

The State’s Most Challenging Lawn Conditions

Perry County faces a steep uphill battle with a lawn difficulty score of just 11.3, the lowest in this group. This score reflects an environment that is much tougher than the Mississippi average of 30.9 and far from the national median. Homeowners here must contend with extreme heat and very difficult soil chemistry.

Extreme Heat Defines the Perry Climate

The county endures a staggering 113 days per year with temperatures at or above 90°F, far exceeding the state average of 73. Combined with 63.9 inches of annual rain and 6,393 growing degree days, the climate is relentless. Only the most heat-hardy, warm-season grasses can survive these conditions long-term.

Sandy, Acidic Soil Needs Major Help

With 58.5% sand and a very low pH of 4.90, the soil in Perry County offers little natural support for a lush lawn. Nutrients leach out quickly, and the acidity can lock away what little remains. To succeed, you will need to commit to a rigorous lime and slow-release fertilizer program.

Persistent Drought and High Water Needs

Perry County spent 30 weeks in drought over the last year, and 84.1% of its area remains abnormally dry today. The combination of sandy soil and triple-digit heat days means your lawn can dehydrate in just 48 hours without rain. Prioritize water conservation by using smart irrigation and drought-resistant grass varieties.

Plant Early for the Long Season

Bahia and Centipede grass are the best bets for surviving Perry’s intense 8b climate and sandy soil. The last spring frost typically hits by March 18th, providing an early start for the marathon growing season. Establishing a strong lawn before the 113 days of extreme heat begin is the key to success.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Perry County's county score?
Perry County, Mississippi has a composite county score of 60.7 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does Perry County rank among counties in Mississippi?
Perry County ranks #7 among all counties in Mississippi on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in Perry County, Mississippi?
The median annual property tax in Perry County is $947, with an effective tax rate of 0.75%. This earns Perry County a tax score of 57.5/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Perry County?
The median household income in Perry County, Mississippi is $50,435 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Perry County earns an income score of 15.5/100 on CountyScore.
Is Perry County, Mississippi a good place to live?
Perry County scores 60.7/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #7 in Mississippi. The best way to evaluate Perry County is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare Perry County with other counties side by side.
By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

ByCounty Network

Property TaxCost of LivingIncome & JobsSafetyHealthSchoolsDisaster RiskWater QualityWeather & ClimateSoil QualityLawn CareFarmers Markets

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, NOAA — informational only.