Gulfport vs Hattiesburg
Compare Gulfport, MS and Hattiesburg, MS on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,010/mo in Gulfport and $939/mo in Hattiesburg, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,151/mo and $1,101/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (243 vs 235 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Climate is a real differentiator: Gulfport runs summer highs near 91°F and winter lows near 40°F, while Hattiesburg runs 92°F and 32°F. Long-term hazard exposure also separates them: Hattiesburg screens more resilient on the FEMA National Risk Index composite (47 vs 11/100, higher = lower expected annual loss per resident). If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Hattiesburg; if walkable daily life matters more, Gulfport screens stronger on the walkability proxy (5 vs 4). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Hattiesburg leads 82 to 76 on the cost and climate screen.
Hattiesburg leads 75 to 72 on the work screen.
Gulfport leads 41 to 27 on the daily life screen.
Gulfport leads 54 to 51 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Gulfport is roughly $127,500 in Hattiesburg using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Gulfport | Hattiesburg | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,010/mo | $939/mo | Hattiesburg |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,151/mo | $1,101/mo | Hattiesburg |
| Median home value | $176,000 | $160,000 | Hattiesburg |
| State income tax | 4% | 4% | Tie |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 24.9 min | Hattiesburg |
| Safety score | 62/100 | 62/100 | Tie |
| School score | 4/10 | 4/10 | Tie |
| Walkability estimate | 5/100 | 4/100 | Gulfport |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 5/10 | Gulfport |
| Restaurants per 100k | 190.2 | 178.9 | Gulfport |
| Mountain distance | 171 mi | 121 mi | Hattiesburg |
| Coast distance | 8 mi | 65 mi | Gulfport |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 11/100 | 47/100 | Hattiesburg |
| Coastal flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 96th | 0th | Hattiesburg |
| Inland flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 52th | 34th | Hattiesburg |
| Tornado risk percentile (NRI) | 71th | 87th | Gulfport |
What stands out
Gulfport stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Named beach within 33 miles
- Coast access within 8 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
Gulfport tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
Hattiesburg stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Coast access within 65 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Hattiesburg tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Common questions
Is Gulfport cheaper than Hattiesburg?
On public benchmarks Hattiesburg is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,010/mo in Gulfport vs $939/mo in Hattiesburg; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,151/mo vs $1,101/mo; state income tax is 4% vs 4%.
Is Gulfport or Hattiesburg safer?
Gulfport screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 62/100 for Gulfport and 62/100 for Hattiesburg (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Gulfport or Hattiesburg?
School screens show 4/10 for Gulfport vs 4/10 for Hattiesburg, alongside the safety scores above. Both screen similarly — district-level research will matter more than the metro gap.
How different is the climate between Gulfport and Hattiesburg?
Gulfport: summer highs near 91°F, winter lows near 40°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Hattiesburg: 92°F / 32°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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