Move From California to Mississippi

Move From California To Mississippi

Mississippi was probably the first state you could spell as a kid since the song makes it so much fun! Southern hospitality runs deep in Mississippi, and its people are genuinely helpful, polite and generous. There is an innate sense of community, even for those who are not natives and are just moving to Mississippi. The state gets its culture from old-fashioned town squares, crumbling antebellums and highways marked with blues and barbecue.

Are you ready to Move From California to Mississippi?

60 Second Relocation Assessment

Moving Advice

  • Be sure to check with your new neighborhood or building landlord for any specific parking permits you will need. Visit GOMDOT.com for more information.
  • Mississippi Summers are long and hot; winters are short and mild. Mississippi weather also includes regular hurricanes, tornadoes and thunderstorms, so be sure to familiarize yourself with proper evacuation procedures.
  • If you are hiring a professional moving company, make sure they have been pre-screened, licensed and bonded, and offer full US moving services. A
  • Have all of your belongings carefully packed and ready when the movers show up; these companies charge a hefty packing and unpacking fee in addition to the moving fees. If you can, unpack all of your belongings yourself after the move.

Change your address online. To make your move from California to Mississippi easier, consider changing your address online. It is easy to do, inexpensive, and will ensure that your mail arrives to your new home with you.

Cities and Metro Areas

With the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and being home to the Mississippi Delta, there is a lot of history, heritage and culture embedded in Mississippi; the Mississippi Delta region is considered to be the birthplace of blues music.

If you are looking for a reasonably affluent area, Madison should feature high on your list of maybes. Arnold Lane is a popular area with millennials due to affordable housing prices. Clinton is perfect for families since it has 25 schools and a whole host of entertainment facilities. Ocean Springs is home to just over 17,000 people; meaning the beach is never too overcrowded.

Other notable cities include Oxford, Brandon, Petal and Gulf Park Estates.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Mississippi is much lower than the national average by at least 15 percent and has remained relatively stable over recent years. However, keep in mind that the average salary tends to be lower here as well. Mississippi has the lowest per capita personal income of any state, but also has the nation’s lowest living costs. When looking for jobs in Mississippi, it may be helpful to know that Jackson has one of the highest yearly salary averages in the state, while Meridian has one of the lowest.

Home prices in Mississippi have appreciated 22.0% higher than the national level from last year. Looking back three years at the median price in October 2019 compared to October 2022, prices have increased 40.4% in Mississippi VS 35.8% nationwide.  As of October 2022, the median price for a home in the state was $247,800, which is up 6.1% above last year’s median price. Comparing prices over the last three years, we can see they have decreased -2.3% from the peak of $253,600 in Jun-2022.

Highways and Public Transport

Four major Interstates run through Mississippi: I-10, I-20, I-55, and I-59. Mississippi is flat, with long stretches of forest lining the sides of the roads in between major cities, making it very easy to travel throughout the state.

Mississippi is somewhat behind the times in regard to public transportation. Consisting only of city bus services, Mississippi is sorely lacking since there are no light rails, trams, or commuter trains available. State funds simply cannot afford it.

JATRAN is the city of Jackson’s Transit System, which operates hourly or half-hourly during daytime hours on weekdays, and hourly on Saturdays. No evening or Sunday service is provided, which is something to be aware of should you be using this mode of transportation for work.

Climate

Mississippi is hit with heavy rainfalls and frequent, extreme weather storms in the form of hurricanes, thunder, and tropical storms. This makes the weather hot and humid for almost nine months of the year, Tornadoes also occur in most parts of Mississippi. Rain often comes in a torrential downpour that only lasts for a short but then causes humidity when the sun comes back up. Late summer into fall are the peak seasonal times for hurricanes, particularly in the southern half of the state, and flooding usually occurs between December and June.

Winter is short and mild, rarely getting cold enough to leave a thin frost on your windshield. The areas surrounding the Mississippi Sound tend to stay significantly warmer, as the water retains the heat from the long summers.

Education

If you’re moving to Mississippi, you’ll have access to some top-notch and notable educational institutions. Current school rankings (elementary, middle and high schools), campus and district zoning/location maps, information and reviews are available online for parents moving to Mississippi:

Start your search for schools with the following chart-toppers:

Elementary Schools: Davis Magnet School, Watkins Elementary School and George Elementary School in Jackson.

High Schools: Corinth High School in Corinth, Lewisburg High School in Olive Branch and West Lauderdale High School in Collinsville.

Colleges and Universities: Mississippi College, Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi are ranked among the best colleges in the southeastern US.

Government

The The Mississippi State Government maintains a comprehensive website with information for visitors, residents and businesses.