Hernando receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Southaven
Hernando
Opportunity
55 · Bottom 48%
vs58 · Top 45%
Growth
41 · Bottom 34%
vs63 · Top 27%
Climate
68 · Bottom 40%
vs68 · Bottom 40%
Physical resilience
57 · Bottom 49%
vs57 · Bottom 49%
Housing affordability
90 · Top 31%
vs82 · Top 47%
Schools
47 · Bottom 43%
vs87 · Top 6%
Access
98 · Top 19%
vs96 · Top 32%
Economic stability
58 · Bottom 46%
vs64 · Top 41%
Measured values
| Metric | Southaven | Hernando | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 56,226 | 17,949 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $78,483 | $76,950 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,303 | $39,720 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,361/sq mi | 701/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $236,300 | $315,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,445 | $1,302 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 72.5% | 81.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.5% | -1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.8% | 34.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 8.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 91 | 113 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.6 | 6.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -54.5% | -28.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 33°F | 33°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 54.9" | 54.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 6 mi | 13 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 28.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.2 | 38.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 10 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.73 | 16.70 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 37.0% | 73.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 39.8% | 61.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 53.3% | 27.5% | 2024-25 school 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
Southaven
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Hernando
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: Southaven, MS · Hernando, MS · How this is calculated: methodology