Hancock County
MS · Pop. 46,057 · Suburban County
Hancock County is a suburban county in Mississippi, spanning 474 square miles with 46,057 residents at a density of 97.2 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, cabbage. A median home price of $207,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.72% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 247-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.3°F and average winter lows of 40.2°F. Annual rainfall averages 62.6 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Ochsner Medical Center - Hancock is 9.2 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 100% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 247-day growing season in USDA zone 9a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.72% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Ochsner Medical Center - Hancock, with an emergency room, is just 9.2 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.2% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
At a glance
Hancock County, MS is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 66/100
- Median home price
- $207k
- Property tax
- 0.72%
- Growing season
- 247 days (zone 9a)
- Annual rainfall
- 62.6"
- Broadband
- 100%
- Nearest hospital
- Ochsner Medical Center - Hancock, 9.2 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Hancock County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Hancock County?
- Hancock County is in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 247-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.3°F, and average winter lows of 40.2°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, cabbage.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $207,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.72%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 100% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Ochsner Medical Center - Hancock is 9.2 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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More counties in Mississippi
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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.
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