Community & civic
JUL17
hcls · Waveland, MS
Community & civicHappens regularly
Senior Social Hour
hcls
Join fellow BSL Senior Citizens for coffee, light snacks, games, and conversation. Weekly themes will vary.
WeeklyBring the grandkids
Mississippi
Snapshot
Retire by stateFigures verified May 31, 2026
Mississippi retirement guide
Retiring in Mississippi
You get a warm Gulf Coast and a light tax bite here. Hurricane season is the price of entry.
Could fit
You want warm weather, coastal living, and a state that leaves most retirement income alone.
Look closely at
Hurricanes, climbing coastal insurance costs, and one of the country's thinnest rural health networks are all real.
Cost of living
$4,350/mo
Using the same $5,000 national monthly example, Mississippi comes out near $4,350 a month.
#2 of 50 for lowest everyday cost, using the same BEA index shown here.
U.S. avg 100
More affordablePricier
Mississippi runs about 13% below the national average on everyday prices.
Cost of recreation
86
Our index of how Mississippi's estimated annual hobby costs compare with the rest of the country.
#6 of 50 for lower estimated recreation cost, using the same hobby-cost model shown here.
U.S. avg 100
More affordablePricier
Mississippi's modeled hobby costs run about 14% below the national average. The modeled average is about $896 a year across the activity basket.
Est. Our own measure from 8 modeled hobbies. It uses published state fees where we have them, then adds recurring hobby assumptions like gear, trips, memberships, and upkeep. 100 = national average.
How the plan models Mississippi
The state lines the calculator actually changes.
Start here for the whole state picture. The quick math sits beside the things that change daily life: taxes, home costs, care costs, towns, weather, and what Mississippi actually feels like.
Tax and Medicare
Check the Mississippi income picture.
Estimate how Mississippi treats Social Security, pension income, IRA/401(k) withdrawals, city income tax, and Medicare premium tiers before you build the full journey.
Social Security
Not taxed
Pension
Not taxed
IRA / 401(k)
Not taxed
Cost of living
$4,350/mo
Using the same $5,000 national monthly example, Mississippi prices translate to about $4,350 a month.
BEA Regional Price ParitiesState income tax
~1.0%
Mississippi does not tax Social Security in the summary used here, but a 1% blended planning rate is used for taxable retirement-income context. AARP lists Mississippi among states that do not tax IRA and 401(k) distributions in the summary used here.
Tax FoundationSocial Security
Not taxed
Mississippi does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here.
AARP / IRS Pub. 915Property tax
0.8%
Property tax is local, but the Mississippi state-level planning rate used here is 0.8% of home value. On a $350,000 home, that is about $2,800 a year before county detail.
Tax FoundationSales tax
7.1%
Tax Foundation puts Mississippi's 2026 average combined state and local sales tax near 7.1%, ranked 23 among states in that table.
Tax FoundationVehicle costs
Check cars
Vehicle costs need a separate check in Mississippi because value-based vehicle taxes or registration-linked property taxes can show up in the car budget.
FreeTaxUSA vehicle-tax guideLong-term care in Mississippi
The care cliff, in Mississippi dollars.
CareScout and Genworth 2025 median costs, compared with the national median. Long-term care is a separate planning layer from ordinary Medicare costs.
Assisted living
$4,369/mo
About $52,425 a year, 30% lower than the national median.
Nursing home (semi-private)
$9,581/mo
About $114,975 a year, about the same as the national median.
Home caregiver
$4,576/mo
About $54,912 a year, 31% lower than the national median.
Activities & recreation in Mississippi
What there is to do, with the sources.
How the things people retire for actually look in Mississippi. Each links to the full activity guide.
GolfMSU Golf Course
Mississippi State University's golf course charges seniors $16 for 9 holes and $30 for 18 holes, and the Ole Miss Golf Course in Oxford offers alumni and senior rates of $22 for 9 holes and $32 for 18 holes. River Bend Links near Vicksburg lists a senior rate of $39 for 18 holes on weekdays during peak season.
$1,052/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
24 public rounds per year, plus equipment refresh, range balls, carts, and other course extras.
Published input
Lakeview Municipal Golf Course (Meridian, MS): 18-hole weekday $25; weekends/holidays $27. Seniors over 80 receive half price. Rates vary by season and tee time.
Published range: $25 to $35.
Lakeview Golf Course City of Meridian MS · as of 2025Where to go
GardeningMSU Extension Master Gardener
Mississippi State University Extension operates the state Master Gardener program through county offices, and community gardens are found in Jackson, Hattiesburg, and Oxford. The long growing season, typically March through November, allows for warm-season crops including sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and okra.
$502/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
Seeds, soil, tools, replacement plants, water, and a modest home or community-garden setup.
Published input
Mississippi State Parks Annual Entrance Pass: $50 per person (in- and out-of-state). This covers day-use access to state park facilities. Many state park botanical gardens and grounds have free walk-in access.
Published range: $0 to $50.
MDWFP State Park Fees · as of 2025FishingMississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks manages 22 public state fishing lakes and oversees access to the Mississippi River, Gulf Coast waters, and inland lakes such as Sardis and Ross Barnett Reservoir. Fishing and hunting licenses are purchased through the MDWFP licensing portal.
$390/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
One resident annual license, plus tackle, bait, simple access trips, and replacement gear.
Published input
Mississippi resident freshwater fishing is included in the All Game Hunting/Freshwater Fishing license ($25) or Sportsman's License ($45). No standalone resident freshwater-only annual license is listed by MDWFP. Residents 65 and older are exempt from needing a freshwater fishing license.
Published range: $10 to $45.
MDWFP Hunting and Fishing License Prices · as of 2025Boating & waterMississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Mississippi offers boating on Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson, the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, all with public boat ramps. The MDWFP manages boat registration and posts general boating rules and regulations on its website.
$4,054/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
A modest owned boat, including registration, insurance, storage, maintenance, fuel, and basic upkeep.
Published input
Mississippi boat registration (3-year): vessels less than 16 feet $10.99; 16 feet but less than 26 feet $25.99. Registrations are valid for three consecutive years.
Published range: $10.99 to $48.49.
MDWFP Boat Registration and Renewal · as of 2024Where to go
Pickleball & tennisUSA Pickleball Court Finder
Pickleball has grown at park and recreation departments in Jackson, Hattiesburg, and Oxford, and USA Pickleball lists courts at several community centers and parks around the state. Many YMCA and community recreation facilities in Mississippi have converted tennis courts or added dedicated pickleball lines.
$329/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
30 court visits per year, plus paddle replacement, balls, league fees, and small club costs.
No state-published fee is attached to this activity, so the estimate uses the recurring-cost assumption only.
Where to go
Arts & cultureMississippi Museum of Art
Mississippi is home to the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson (with a free community gallery), the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola, and the Elvis Presley Birthplace in Tupelo. The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra performs in Jackson and the state maintains a network of arts councils across the Delta and Gulf Coast regions.
$408/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
8 museum, theater, or cultural visits per year, plus a modest membership or ticket budget.
Published input
Mississippi Museum of Art (Jackson): senior admission (65+) $13 for rotating exhibitions in the Barksdale Galleries. Permanent collection exhibition is always free.
Published range: $0 to $15.
Mississippi Museum of Art Tickets and Hours · as of 2026Where to go
Social & communityMississippi Division of Aging and Adult Services
The Mississippi Department of Human Services Division of Aging and Adult Services funds senior centers and meal programs in all 82 counties through the state's network of Area Agencies on Aging. Local senior centers host social activities, health screenings, and transportation assistance for older residents.
$157/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
Senior-center, club, class, trip, or program costs beyond any published membership fee.
Published input
Community Action of South Mississippi (CASOMS) Ocean Springs Senior Center and Moss Point Senior Center: no fee to participate; open to adults 60 and older in Jackson County Monday through Friday.
Community Action of South Mississippi Senior Centers · as of 2025Where to go
Hiking & trailsMississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
MDWFP manages 25 state parks with hiking trails at varying difficulty levels, including Tishomingo State Park in the northeast with rocky terrain, Trace State Park near Tupelo with over 35 miles of trails, and the Clark Creek Natural Area featuring 50 waterfalls. The parks department hosts guided First Day Hikes at parks statewide each January 1.
$274/yrEst.
Estimated annual hobby cost
12 trail or park visits per year, plus footwear, basic gear, parking, and local travel.
Published input
Mississippi State Parks day-use entrance fee: $0 to $4 per person (5 and under free). Annual Entrance Pass (in- and out-of-state) $50 per person.
Published range: $0 to $50.
MDWFP State Park Fees · as of 2025Things to do in Mississippi
What a week can look like.
Take the boat to Ship Island
Ship Island sits about 12 miles off the coast, and a passenger boat runs out from the mainland. You land at a historic fort with a swimming beach and open Gulf views, all part of Gulf Islands National Seashore.
National Park ServiceExplore Gulf Islands National Seashore
The Mississippi stretch of the seashore is made for swimming, fishing, kayaking, biking, and beachcombing along protected barrier islands. There is a pace here for high energy and low energy alike.
Fish and boat along the coast
Around Gulfport and Biloxi the warm water keeps fishing, boating, and beach time close at hand. Downtown adds an aquarium, museums, and waterfront dining for the slower days.
What to know about Mississippi
What can change the month.
Hurricane season shapes coastal life
The coast sits in hurricane country. The state Insurance Department puts out a consumer hurricane checklist so you can document your property and plan ahead. Since Katrina the coast has moved to modern building codes and elevated structures, but the storm risk does not go away.
Mississippi Insurance DepartmentSevere storms trigger disaster relief
The trouble is not only hurricanes. Inland storms hit too. In 2026 the IRS announced tax relief for Mississippi taxpayers struck by a severe winter storm and pushed back several filing deadlines. The state qualifies for federal disaster declarations on a regular basis.
Internal Revenue ServiceRural health care access is strained
Mississippi has the worst physician-to-population ratio in the nation, by a Mississippi State University analysis, and many rural hospitals run on thin margins. If you settle outside the larger cities, check how far the nearest hospital and specialists really are.
Mississippi State University / MS Health PolicyThings to do in Mississippi
What there is to do across Mississippi.
5 tracked categories across Mississippi. Each card opens the search filtered to that activity.
Golf
Golf
Public, resort, and municipal courses near retirement towns.
13 places tracked
Fish
Fishing
Boat ramps, piers, lakes, and shore access.
98 places tracked
Arts
Arts and culture
Museums, galleries, theaters, and cultural stops.
23 places tracked
Meet
Community
Senior centers, community centers, and places to meet people.
13 places tracked
Birds
Birding
Top-rated birding hotspots from the eBird community.
81 places tracked
Upcoming events in Mississippi
See all eventsClasses & arts
JUL17
hcls · Waveland, MS
Classes & arts
Crafts and Conversation
hcls
Crafts and Conversation. Meet together with others from the community to create a fun craft project.
Arts and craftsIndoors
Dance & fitness
JUL17
hcls · Waveland, MS
Dance & fitness
Pearlington Pacers
hcls
The Pearlington Pacers are a walking club looking for the community to come together and walk or exercise along the Pearlington Walking Trail. You can walk or exercise at your own pace. Welcomed for any age group, tell a friend to tell a friend
Hiking and natureDance and fitnessOutdoors
Lifelong learning
JUL17
hcls · Waveland, MS
Community & civic
JUL17
jacksonhinds · Jackson, MS
Community & civic
Seed Library
jacksonhinds
Terry Library is starting its own Seed Library! Patrons are welcome to take seeds to plant as well as bring seeds to give to the library.
IndoorsBring the grandkids
Lifelong learning
JUL17
hcls · Waveland, MS
Lifelong learning
Strength and Flexibility
hcls
Get moving with this instructor-led, seated fitness class. Gentle stretching and movements are suitable for participants looking for a slower pace. Please dress comfortably.
Dance and fitnessIndoors
Weighing two states?
Put Mississippi next to another state.
Compare cost of living, taxes, Social Security treatment, property and sales tax, and long-term-care costs side by side.
Common questions
Retiring in Mississippi, answered.
Does Mississippi tax retirement income?
Mississippi does not tax Social Security benefits under the current state-tax summary used here. AARP lists Mississippi among states that do not tax IRA and 401(k) distributions in the summary used here. Mississippi does not tax Social Security in the summary used here, but a 1% blended planning rate is used for taxable retirement-income context.
AARP: how states tax retirement incomeIs Mississippi cheaper or more expensive than average?
BEA regional price parities put Mississippi about 13.0% below the U.S. average cost level. That price level is the first reason a national retirement number needs a Mississippi translation.
BEA Regional Price ParitiesWhat does long-term care cost in Mississippi?
In the CareScout and Genworth 2025 medians, Mississippi assisted living runs about $52,425 a year (30% lower than the national median) and a semi-private nursing-home room about $114,975 a year (about the same as the national median).
CareScout / Genworth Cost of CareIs Mississippi a hard place to insure a coastal home?
Coastal property carries real hurricane risk, and the state Insurance Department tells homeowners to inventory what they own and prepare early. Wind and storm coverage can add a lot to the cost of a coastal home, so get quotes before you buy.
Mississippi Insurance DepartmentSources
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