Hattiesburg receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Hattiesburg
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
Opportunity
48 · Bottom 34%
vs39 · Bottom 18%
Growth
33 · Bottom 24%
vs29 · Bottom 17%
Climate
77 · Top 12%
vs79 · Top 7%
Physical resilience
51 · Bottom 44%
vs34 · Bottom 23%
Housing affordability
93 · Bottom 45%
vs98 · Top 38%
Access
66 · Bottom 31%
vs67 · Bottom 32%
Economic stability
45 · Bottom 43%
vs38 · Bottom 33%
Measured values
| Metric | Hattiesburg | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 155,434 | 202,438 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $60,285 | $64,038 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,172 | $33,746 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 97/sq mi | 88/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $191,200 | $189,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,014 | $1,014 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 64.3% | 77.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 4.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -0.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.9% | 19.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | 16.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 113 | 524 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 2.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -13.1% | -18.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 38°F | 46°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 58 mi | 57 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 26.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.5 | 38.8 | 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.
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, coastal flooding.
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
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
55
Your Score
53
Area Score
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Full profiles: Hattiesburg, MS Metro Area · Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology