Cost of living in the Hattiesburg Metro Area
3 counties across MS. Population: 154,567.
Last updated May 22, 2026
Rent in the Hattiesburg Metro Area
Average rent across the Hattiesburg metro area, weighted by county population.
Source: HUD FMR + ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Income and earnings in the Hattiesburg Metro Area
Earnings data averaged across all 3 counties.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Home values in the Hattiesburg Metro Area
Average home values and annual property tax across the metro.
Source: ACS (population-weighted metro average)
Energy costs in the Hattiesburg Metro Area
Residential electricity and natural gas estimates.
Source: EIA (state averages applied per county, weighted)
All 3 counties in the Hattiesburg Metro Area
The Hattiesburg metro area includes 3 counties. Sorted by population.
- Forrest County MS$2,750/moPop78,027 Rent$952/mo Income$52,821/yrForrest County MS 78,027 $952/mo $52,821/yr $2,750/mo
- Lamar County MS$2,986/moPop65,081 Rent$952/mo Income$69,106/yrLamar County MS 65,081 $952/mo $69,106/yr $2,986/mo
- Perry County MS$2,865/moPop11,459 Rent$952/mo Income$50,435/yrPerry County MS 11,459 $952/mo $50,435/yr $2,865/mo
Compare counties in the Hattiesburg Metro Area
Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up across the metro.
Open comparison toolFrequently asked questions about the Hattiesburg Metro Area
Common questions about cost of living in the metro area.
What is the cost of living in the Hattiesburg Metro Area?
The estimated average cost of living in the Hattiesburg metro area is approximately $2,858 per month for a single person. This is a population-weighted average across the 3 counties that make up the metro area.
What is the average rent in the Hattiesburg Metro Area?
The average one-bedroom rent across the Hattiesburg metro area is $952 per month, based on HUD Fair Market Rent data weighted by county population.
What is the cheapest county in the Hattiesburg Metro Area?
Forrest County, MS is the most affordable county in the Hattiesburg metro area at approximately $2,750 per month for a single person.
What is the most expensive county in the Hattiesburg Metro Area?
Lamar County, MS is the most expensive county in the Hattiesburg metro area at approximately $2,986 per month for a single person.
How many counties are in the Hattiesburg Metro Area?
The Hattiesburg metro area covers 3 counties. The five largest by population are Forrest County, Lamar County, Perry County.
Use this research
Journalists, researchers and bloggers are welcome to cite and share this analysis. Please include a follow link back to this page when referencing our data. For bespoke analysis, expert comment, or high-resolution graphics, get in touch via our press office.
About this data
All figures come from official U.S. government sources. Metro-area averages are population-weighted across constituent counties using Census ACS population estimates.