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Harrison County

MS · Pop. 209,443 · Mixed County

62/100Homestead Score

Harrison County, Mississippi covers 574 square miles with a population of 209,443 and a density of 364.9 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, melons. The median home price is $199,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.65%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 282-day growing season, average summer highs of 90°F and average winter lows of 43.1°F. Annual rainfall averages 64.7 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Garden Park Medical Center is 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.

Property Tax: 0.65%
Growing Season: 282 days
Broadband: 100%
Density: 364.9/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 282-day growing season in USDA zone 9a 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 $199,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 100% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Garden Park Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 2 miles away — strong local healthcare access.

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 364.9 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.

At a glance

Harrison County, MS is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.

Homestead score
62/100
Median home price
$199k
Property tax
0.65%
Growing season
282 days (zone 9a)
Annual rainfall
64.7"
Broadband
100%
Nearest hospital
Garden Park Medical Center, 2 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.65%
Median Household Income$57,233
Poverty Rate17.4%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$199K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone9a
Growing Season282 days
Annual Rainfall64.7 inches
Avg Summer High90°F
Avg Winter Low43.1°F
Top CropsHay, Haylage, Melons

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought6/10
Wildfire10/10
Tornado10/10
Flood10/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalGarden Park Medical Center (2 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities10

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage100%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.5%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Harrison County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Harrison County?
Harrison County is in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 282-day growing season, average summer highs of 90°F, and average winter lows of 43.1°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, melons.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $199,000 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 100% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Garden Park Medical Center is 2 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 10 hospitals in the county.

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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.