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George County

MS · Pop. 24,870 · Suburban County

92/100Homestead Score

George County is a suburban county in Mississippi, spanning 479 square miles with 24,870 residents at a density of 51.9 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, cotton, peanuts. A median home price of $168,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.65% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 271-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.3°F and average winter lows of 41.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 63.4 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. George Regional Hospital is 5.4 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.9% of homes. On the hazard side, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.65%
Growing Season: 271 days
Broadband: 99.9%
Density: 51.9/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 271-day growing season in USDA zone 8b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.65% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • A median home price of $168,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 99.9% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • George Regional Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 5.4 miles away — strong local healthcare access.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • A poverty rate of 18.7% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
  • The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.

At a glance

George County, MS is a strong overall fit for homesteading.

Homestead score
92/100
Median home price
$168k
Property tax
0.65%
Growing season
271 days (zone 8b)
Annual rainfall
63.4"
Broadband
99.9%
Nearest hospital
George Regional Hospital, 5.4 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.65%
Median Household Income$54,822
Poverty Rate18.7%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$168K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone8b
Growing Season271 days
Annual Rainfall63.4 inches
Avg Summer High90.3°F
Avg Winter Low41.8°F
Top CropsHay, Cotton, Peanuts

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought6/10
Wildfire8/10
Tornado5/10
Flood4/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalGeorge Regional Hospital (5.4 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage99.9%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate5.1%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in George County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in George County?
George County is in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 271-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.3°F, and average winter lows of 41.8°F. The established crops are hay, cotton, peanuts.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $168,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.65%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 99.9% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
George Regional Hospital is 5.4 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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Nearby counties

The closest counties to George County by distance, including across state lines.

Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.