Life may not always be rainbows and butterflies, but according to the website Credit Donkey, it comes pretty darn close in the following Mississippi cities. In order to determine which cities were among the happiest in the state, the website took into account factors such as restaurants, crime rate, commute time, departure time, income, divorce rate, and housing. After scrutinizing statistics for every city in the state (no matter the size), Credit Donkey concluded that the following cities are the state’s happiest.
- Long Beach
Long Beach Farmers Market/Facebook Long Beach may be nicknamed the “friendly city” but as it turns out, it’s also one of the happiest - and for good reason. The city has one of the lowest violent crime rates in the state, a decent median income of nearly $57,000, offers amazing waterfront views, and is conveniently located near the larger city of Gulfport.
- Ridgeland
Visit Ridgeland/Facebook Home to the Ross Barnett Reservoir, residents of Ridgeland are able to easily access one of the state’s most popular amenities, but that’s not the only thing they have to be happy about. According to Credit Donkey’s study, Ridgeland residents enjoy a short commute time, a respectable median income, and more restaurants per capita than any other city in the state.
- Brookhaven
City of Brookhaven, Mississippi – Government/Facebook Brookhaven is probably most known for being home to the coffee-pot-topped building, the Coffee Pot Inn, but residents know the town has much more to offer, including an extremely low rate of violent crime, housing costs that consume only 21% of residents’ income, and short commute times.
- Amory
Fingers-of-Pyrex/Wikimedia Home to Bill’s Hamburgers since 1929, it’s a given that Amory residents have great food right at their fingertips, but that’s not all they’re able to enjoy. The small town boasts safe neighborhoods, low housing costs, and an average commute time of just under 20 minutes.
- Brandon
City of Brandon Government/Facebook Brandon may be located near the larger city of Jackson, but that hasn’t taken away from its small town feel. In fact, with a violent crime rate of 1 in 3,679.8, it’s the safest city on the list. Brandon also boasts the second-highest median income of all the states listed and a pretty short average commute time of 23 minutes.
- Gautier
City of Gautier When it comes to this city, it’s all about location, location, location. Gautier is situated on the shores of the beautiful Pascagoula River and is in close proximity to the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge, which is the only place in the world where the endangered Sandhill crane can be found. Decent housing costs and commute times also give Gautier residents something to smile about.
- Madison
Randall R. Saxton/Flickr Named the state’s best city to live in, it only makes sense that Madison residents are among the happiest in Mississippi. And from the looks of it, there’s a lot to be happy about. Madison’s median household income is higher than any other city in Mississippi, the crime rate is the second lowest in the nation, and the city has the lowest housing cost in the state based on income.
- Pascagoula
Visit Mississippi/Flickr Aside from beach access and beautiful waterfront views, Pascagoula’s 22,000 residents have a lot to be happy about. At 12.2%, the city fared the best when it came to residents who have to leave before 5:00 am for work. Pascagoula also scored extremely well when it came to housing costs and commute times – both of which surely have something to do with the contentment of the city’s residents.
- Clinton
Main Street Clinton/Facebook Located northwest of Jackson, roughly 25,000 people call Clinton home. The city didn’t score the highest in one individual category, but did well across the board. A decent median income, affordable housing, and an average commute time and violent crime rate are among the accolades that surely contribute to the smiles on the faces of Clinton residents.
- Crystal Springs
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr Crystal Springs may be known as “the vegetable capital of Mississippi” but it looks as if things are just peachy for its residents. Home to only about 5,000 residents, Crystal Springs is the smallest city on this list but delivers in a big way. The city offers affordable housing, the shortest average commute time in the state, a low divorce rate, and a high number of restaurants per capita.
What Mississippi cities would you add to this list?
Long Beach Farmers Market/Facebook
Long Beach may be nicknamed the “friendly city” but as it turns out, it’s also one of the happiest - and for good reason. The city has one of the lowest violent crime rates in the state, a decent median income of nearly $57,000, offers amazing waterfront views, and is conveniently located near the larger city of Gulfport.
Visit Ridgeland/Facebook
Home to the Ross Barnett Reservoir, residents of Ridgeland are able to easily access one of the state’s most popular amenities, but that’s not the only thing they have to be happy about. According to Credit Donkey’s study, Ridgeland residents enjoy a short commute time, a respectable median income, and more restaurants per capita than any other city in the state.
City of Brookhaven, Mississippi – Government/Facebook
Brookhaven is probably most known for being home to the coffee-pot-topped building, the Coffee Pot Inn, but residents know the town has much more to offer, including an extremely low rate of violent crime, housing costs that consume only 21% of residents’ income, and short commute times.
Fingers-of-Pyrex/Wikimedia
Home to Bill’s Hamburgers since 1929, it’s a given that Amory residents have great food right at their fingertips, but that’s not all they’re able to enjoy. The small town boasts safe neighborhoods, low housing costs, and an average commute time of just under 20 minutes.
City of Brandon Government/Facebook
Brandon may be located near the larger city of Jackson, but that hasn’t taken away from its small town feel. In fact, with a violent crime rate of 1 in 3,679.8, it’s the safest city on the list. Brandon also boasts the second-highest median income of all the states listed and a pretty short average commute time of 23 minutes.
City of Gautier
When it comes to this city, it’s all about location, location, location. Gautier is situated on the shores of the beautiful Pascagoula River and is in close proximity to the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge, which is the only place in the world where the endangered Sandhill crane can be found. Decent housing costs and commute times also give Gautier residents something to smile about.
Randall R. Saxton/Flickr
Named the state’s best city to live in, it only makes sense that Madison residents are among the happiest in Mississippi. And from the looks of it, there’s a lot to be happy about. Madison’s median household income is higher than any other city in Mississippi, the crime rate is the second lowest in the nation, and the city has the lowest housing cost in the state based on income.
Visit Mississippi/Flickr
Aside from beach access and beautiful waterfront views, Pascagoula’s 22,000 residents have a lot to be happy about. At 12.2%, the city fared the best when it came to residents who have to leave before 5:00 am for work. Pascagoula also scored extremely well when it came to housing costs and commute times – both of which surely have something to do with the contentment of the city’s residents.
Main Street Clinton/Facebook
Located northwest of Jackson, roughly 25,000 people call Clinton home. The city didn’t score the highest in one individual category, but did well across the board. A decent median income, affordable housing, and an average commute time and violent crime rate are among the accolades that surely contribute to the smiles on the faces of Clinton residents.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
Crystal Springs may be known as “the vegetable capital of Mississippi” but it looks as if things are just peachy for its residents. Home to only about 5,000 residents, Crystal Springs is the smallest city on this list but delivers in a big way. The city offers affordable housing, the shortest average commute time in the state, a low divorce rate, and a high number of restaurants per capita.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
