Hattiesburg and Columbus receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Hattiesburg
Columbus
Opportunity
48 · Bottom 34%
vs50 · Bottom 40%
Growth
33 · Bottom 24%
vs34 · Bottom 26%
Climate
77 · Top 12%
vs72 · Top 32%
Physical resilience
51 · Bottom 44%
vs65 · Top 37%
Housing affordability
93 · Bottom 45%
vs88 · Bottom 32%
Access
66 · Bottom 31%
vs50 · Bottom 13%
Economic stability
45 · Bottom 43%
vs33 · Bottom 25%
Measured values
| Metric | Hattiesburg | Columbus | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 155,434 | 325,615 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $60,285 | $59,336 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,172 | $33,493 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 97/sq mi | 117/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $191,200 | $197,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,014 | $1,069 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.3% | 57.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | 0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.9% | 28.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | 18.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 113 | 623 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -13.1% | -5.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 38°F | 38°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 58.9" | 48.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 58 mi | 84 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 24.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.5 | 36.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Hattiesburg
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Columbus
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Hattiesburg
59
Your Score
58
Area Score
Columbus
56
Your Score
59
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Hattiesburg, MS Metro Area · Columbus, GA-AL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology