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Walthall County

MS · Pop. 13,864 · Suburban County

95/100Homestead Score

Walthall County is a suburban county in Mississippi, spanning 404 square miles with 13,864 residents at a density of 34.3 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, corn. The median home price is $121,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.78%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 238-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.5°F and average winter lows of 37.9°F. Annual rainfall averages 63.8 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Walthall General Hospital is 4.3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.2% of homes. On the hazard side, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.78%
Growing Season: 238 days
Broadband: 99.2%
Density: 34.3/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 238-day growing season in USDA zone 8b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.78% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • A median home price of $121,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 99.2% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Walthall General Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 4.3 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 18.1% 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

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

Homestead score
95/100
Median home price
$121k
Property tax
0.78%
Growing season
238 days (zone 8b)
Annual rainfall
63.8"
Broadband
99.2%
Nearest hospital
Walthall General Hospital, 4.3 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.78%
Median Household Income$45,444
Poverty Rate18.1%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$121K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone8b
Growing Season238 days
Annual Rainfall63.8 inches
Avg Summer High91.5°F
Avg Winter Low37.9°F
Top CropsHay, Haylage, Corn

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought6/10
Wildfire7/10
Tornado4/10
Flood3/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalWalthall General Hospital (4.3 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage99.2%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate4.7%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Walthall County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Walthall County?
Walthall County is in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 238-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.5°F, and average winter lows of 37.9°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $121,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.78%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 99.2% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Walthall General Hospital is 4.3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital 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.