Hattiesburg receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
Hattiesburg
Opportunity
39 · Bottom 18%
vs48 · Bottom 34%
Growth
29 · Bottom 17%
vs33 · Bottom 24%
Climate
79 · Top 7%
vs77 · Top 12%
Physical resilience
34 · Bottom 23%
vs51 · Bottom 44%
Housing affordability
98 · Top 38%
vs93 · Bottom 45%
Access
67 · Bottom 32%
vs66 · Bottom 31%
Economic stability
38 · Bottom 33%
vs45 · Bottom 43%
Measured values
| Metric | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | Hattiesburg | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 202,438 | 155,434 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $64,038 | $60,285 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,746 | $34,172 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 88/sq mi | 97/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $189,700 | $191,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,014 | $1,014 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.5% | 64.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.4% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 30.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 18.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 524 | 113 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.6 | 0.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -18.6% | -13.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 46°F | 38°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 57 mi | 58 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 24.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.8 | 35.5 | 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
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, coastal flooding.
Hattiesburg
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
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Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
55
Your Score
53
Area Score
Hattiesburg
59
Your Score
58
Area Score
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Full profiles: Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA Metro Area · Hattiesburg, MS Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology