The State of Mississippi is great if you’re looking for a place where the cost of living and higher education is low, and food is meant to comfort. Combining that with traditional southern hospitality, fantastic music, rich history, and plenty of outdoor activities, moving to Mississippi can be a great experience.
When you think of this southern state, you might think about the Mississippi River, blues music, or Mississippi State University, but living in Mississippi, the Magnolia state has lots to offer besides southern hospitality. There are quaint Southern towns, cotton fields, and even casinos. Jackson, the state’s largest and most populous of cities in Mississippi, is famous for its southern charm and rich Civil Rights and Civil War history. And don’t forget about that Mississippi Mud Pie!
Let’s take a look at what it’s like moving to Mississippi and living in Mississippi, whether that’s to a major city in the center of the state or to DeSoto County, close to Memphis, TN, and many gaming establishments. We’ll explore all the state has to offer and compare the major cities of Denver, Colorado, and Jackson, Mississippi, including the cost of living.
Where Should You Live When You’re Moving to Mississippi?
You might wonder where the best place is for you to live when you’re moving to Mississippi. The state offers cosmopolitan cities and rural hideaways, all with a low cost of living.
Jackson Mississippi
When people think of living in Mississippi, they might first think of Jackson. Jackson is the most populous of Mississippi cities, with 149,761 people. Compare that to Denver, with over 700,000 people, and you might be in for a bit of culture shock. But though small, Jackson has much to offer. It calls itself the “City With Soul” and has been celebrated in songs such as “Uptown Funk.” It’s also famous for its soul food and southern hospitality.
Neighborhoods
These are the best neighborhoods in Jackson:
Eastover
This high-end neighborhood is great for families and popular with retirees. Younger people are attracted to luxury lofts, upscale restaurants, and plentiful shopping.
Belhaven
You’ll find a lot of young families here living in mid-century modern homes. There are also two universities: Millsaps College and Belhaven University, which add to the fun atmosphere.
Fondren
Serene residential streets combine with live music venues in this diverse neighborhood.
Ocean Springs
Ocean Springs is a coastal town brimming with history. With a population of only 18,387, Ocean Springs naturally possesses a lot of small-town appeals. It’s also known for its many festivals and is home to more than 200 shops, restaurants, and galleries. Not into art or shopping? Hang out on the beautiful sandy beaches with a “go cup” from a nearby restaurant or bar.
What the Magnolia State is Known For
As the name suggests, the Magnolia state is known for the magnolia trees that can be found throughout the state. You might even find one in the yard of your Mississippi home! And as an extension of its southern charm, Mississippi is also known as the hospitality state. But moving to Mississippi has a lot to offer besides pretty trees, nice people, and a low cost of living. Let’s explore what it is like living in Mississippi.
Some Fun Mississippi Facts
Before we get into history, culture, and other things unique to Mississippi, here are some interesting things to know about your new state.
- In 1964, the first human heart transplant took place at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
- Mississippi is where Oprah Winfrey was born.
- The first human lung transplant was performed in Mississippi in 1963.
- Biloxi, Mississippi, is where root beer was invented, and Barq’s was created here in 1898.
- The state animal is the white-tailed deer.
- The teddy bear was invented in Mississippi in 1902.
- Have a padded toilet seat? It was invented in Mississippi.
- Jim Henson, the inventor of the Muppets, grew up in Mississippi.
- Jackson is the home of the International Ballet Competition.
- The Mississippi state motto, “Virtute et Armis” is in French and means “by valor and arms.”
- Mississippi is the birthplace of Britney Spears.
Mississippi has a rich history
Mississippi was the 20th state to join the Union. The state’s name comes from the Mississippi River, which forms the western border, and the river is an important part of living in Mississippi because it is one of the country’s major waterways.
Cotton
It became the cotton capital of the United States in the early 19th century. Today, there are still more than one million acres of cotton cultivated in Mississippi.
The American Civil War
The state seceded from the Union in 1861, and many major battles were fought in Mississippi during the civil war. You can visit some of these battlefields as part of your exploration of the state once you become a Mississippi resident.
Brice’s Crossroads National Battlefield
This battlefield is located in Guntown in southern Mississippi. There was a Confederate victory here after a battle involving more than 12,000 men.
Tupelo National Battlefield
Tupelo was the site of the last battle of the Civil War that happened in Mississippi. More than 20,000 Confederate and Union soldiers battled it out in this location, where the Union army ultimately prevailed.
Vicksburg National Military Park
If you’re a civil war buff, this is the place to be. It is one of Mississippi’s most-visited historic sites Vicksburg has 141 cannon and their carriages, 15 bridges of historical value, a total of nine fortifications, as well as the USS Cairo Gunboat and Museum.
Other Mississippi Historical landmarks
Although when you think of the deep south and Mississippi, you think of the Civil War, there are plenty of other places of historical note you and your family can visit.
The Old Capitol
Jackson is the capital of Mississippi, and the Old Capitol Building still stands. This is where the state voted to secede from the Union, and it’s now a museum where you can learn more about this important event.
Biloxi Lighthouse
This historic lighthouse was built in 1848 and is one of the first cast-iron lighthouses built in the south. It is also famous for its long history of female keepers.
Pasacoula’s Round Island Lighthouse
This lighthouse, built in 1859 on the southern side of Round Island, Mississippi, is a National Historic Landmark. It was partially destroyed in 1998 by Hurricane George, and erosion in the humid subtropical climate took its toll. The lighthouse has now been moved to stand at the foot of the Pascagoula, Mississippi River Bridge.
Old Warren County Courthouse Museum
This Mississippi courthouse had a major role in the Civil War. Now a museum, you can see the tie worn by Jefferson Davis when he was inaugurated as president of the Confederacy.
The Dentzel Carousel
This rare carousel in Meridian, Mississippi, has been in operation since 1909. You can still ride the carousel for fifty cents, and it’s only $1 to tour the carousel house.
The Winterville Site
The Winterville Site is a historic Indian mound site near Greenville, Mississippi. It is one of the largest and well preserved. You can tour the 42-acre site free of charge and see 12 prehistoric mounds. There are also two plazas and a museum that you can tour free of charge.
Museums and other Cultural Activities
When you think about moving to Mississippi, you might wonder what it has to offer in terms of culture. Living in Mississippi has more to offer than battlefields.
Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
This museum, located in Jackson, Mississippi, was combined with the Museum of Mississippi History in 2017. It is an interactive Mississippi museum that articulates the state and country’s struggle for civil rights. You’ll learn about those who fought for equal rights, including Medgar Ever and Vernon Dahmer.
B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center
In Indianola, MS, you’ll find the King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center. It’s in the heart of the Mississippi Delta Region and tells the story of the life and music of master blues musician B.B. King. Mississippi is known as the birthplace of America’s music, and King was a major contributor to blues music.
Museum of Natural Science
This museum, located in Jackson, is the largest museum in Mississippi and has a network of aquariums totaling 100,000 gallons. You can also see native species, and there’s a large wall of fossils. You can easily spend an entire afternoon exploring the museum, along with outdoor walking trails.
Elvis Presley Birthplace
Tupelo, Mississippi, was the birthplace of Elvis Presley. Today, you can tour the home, a chapel, and a museum, as well as the Assembly of God Church attended by Elvis and his family. The Presley family built this house at the low cost of $180 and lived in this home for three years until it was repossessed.
The Mississippi Country Music Trail
Tammy Wynette, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charley Pride, Conway Twitty, Faith Hill, and Jimmie Rodgers are just a few of the other major musicians besides Elvis, who were born in Mississippi. Historical markers dot the trail, which covers the entire state from the northern border to the southern. After you’ve seen all the markers on the trail, visit:
The Grammy Museum
Located in Cleveland, Mississippi, the Grammy Museum is an interactive museum that focuses on the musical influence of the Mississippi delta.
Gulf Islands national seashore
This is the country’s largest national seashore. There are plenty of activities that include swimming, boating, fishing, and just hanging out on the beaches. Take a ferry to Ship Island, home of Fort Massachusetts, a fortification that has roots in the War of 1812.
Mississippi’s Economy
When it comes to moving to Mississippi and living in Mississippi, you’re probably wondering about the general job market, professional job opportunities, the median home value, how everything compares to the national average, what living expenses are like, the unemployment rate, and the overall cost of living.
You’ll be happy to know that the state’s low cost of living (16% lower than the national average) makes Mississippi a great place for young professionals to get their start and save money at the same time.
Mississippi median home value is lower than the national average
When you’re moving to Mississippi, you’ll be thrilled to learn that the median home value in Mississippi is $141,900, making it one of the most affordable housing markets in the country. It’s 34% lower than the national average, and low housing costs contribute to the generally low cost of living in Mississippi.
The United States average home price is now $348,000. To compare further, the average home in Jackson, Mississippi, the state’s most populous city, will cost you $85,537, as compared to $561,000 in Denver. That’s quite a savings, and living in Mississippi comes with southern hospitality!
The Mississippi job market
The unemployment rate in Mississippi is about 3.9%, but slightly above the national average of 3.7%. For comparison, Colorado has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, so Mississippi isn’t far behind.
Most common jobs
In Jackson, Mississippi, the most common jobs range from cashier to various jobs in the health care field, including medical records, to health insurance billing specialists, to health insurance agents, to management positions at Mississippi Medical Center.
Fastest growing jobs in Mississippi
Looking for a job while living in Mississippi? The fastest-growing job opportunities in Mississippi include those in the health care sector, including physical therapist assistants and home health aides. Mississippi is working hard to improve its health care overall, especially in largely rural areas. Coming third on the list is industrial mechanics. Software developers are also in demand, and like everywhere else, these jobs command higher wages.
The Cost of Living is Just Less in Mississippi
Not only is housing cheaper, almost everything else is when you’re moving to Mississippi. Rent in Jackson, Mississippi, will cost you 49% less. Most groceries are less, too, and even cigarettes are 32% cheaper. Utilities, however, are a different story. They will cost you about 56% more in Jackson, Mississippi, than in Denver, Colorado. Even clothing and shoes have a low cost in Jackson, Mississippi. A pair of Levi’s jeans will cost you 24% less.
Public Education in Mississippi
An unfortunate fact is that the public education system in Mississippi ranks last in the country. The silver lining is that Mississippi gets a “B” grade for early childhood programs. The national average is a D+. Mississippi is in second place for Head Start. Want to find a good school district when moving to Mississippi?
Aberdeen School District
This district in Aberdeen, Mississippi, has an 82% graduation rate.
Alcorn School District
This school district in Alcorn, Mississippi, has a 92% graduation rate. Test scores are in the top 30% of all Mississippi schools.
Jackson Public School District
This district in Jackson, Mississippi, has a graduation rate of 75%, as well as the largest number of enrollments. One interesting educational fact in Mississippi is that Franklin Academy for Boys in Columbus, the first public school opened in Mississippi, is still operating.
Higher Education in Mississippi
When you’re moving to Mississippi, you have your choice of eight public universities and eight private colleges in your quest for higher education.
The University of Mississippi
Those moving to Mississippi might know this institution of higher education as Ole Miss. It’s located in Oxford, Mississippi, and has a large number of fraternities and sororities–35% of all students are members. Some of its more well-known graduates are Archie Manning and Eli Manning, both NFL players and author William Faulkner.
Mississippi State University
Founded in 1878, this university is in a rural setting in Starkville, Mississippi. They offer 160-degree programs and have a prestigious college of veterinary medicine.
The best-known alumnus of Mississippi State University is the author John Grisham. You would have thought he earned a degree in English, but no. His degree is in accounting!
Mississippi College
Mississippi College is a private university in Clinton, Mississippi, founded in 1826. Popular majors include registered nurse, exercise science, biomedical sciences, criminal justice, and elementary education.
William Carey University
William Carey University is a private Baptist Christian university in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Along with a college of Osteology, popular majors include registered nursing, elementary education, biological sciences, business administration, and psychology.
Moving to Mississippi: The Weather
Since you’re moving to Mississippi, you might wonder how the weather is different, so let’s compare Denver, Colorado, and Jackson, Mississippi.
Denver’s climate is semi-arid, high desert, while Mississippi, including Jackson, has a climate that is humid subtropical.
- Denver gets 245 sunny days each year, and Jackson about 211.
- Jackson is much rainier, with 54 inches annually, above the national average. Denver only gets about 16.7 inches per year.
- Denver makes up for the lack of rain with more than 60 inches of snow each year, while Jackson, Mississippi, only gets about .5 inches.
When it comes to winter and summer, aside from the difference in humidity, July temperatures in Denver, Colorado, and Jackson, Mississippi, are comparable at 88.9 and 91.9 degrees, respectively.
Winter is another story. The January low in Mississippi can be expected to be 35.4 degrees, while Denver is suffering with a winter low of 17.9 degrees.
When scheduling your moving date to Mississippi, you should keep snow and rain in mind. When it comes to natural disasters, Mississippi wins, with about 1.6 events per year, compared to 1.4 in Colorado.
Moving to Mississippi means the potential for severe storms, extreme heat, tornadoes, and floods. These are some of the same things you would face in Colorado, so no real surprises here.
Moving to Mississippi and Establishing Residency
Whenever you move to Mississippi or elsewhere, you have to establish residency. What does this mean? It means getting a new driver’s license, among other things, and figuring out which local department does what.
Driver’s license:
To get an MS driver’s license means filling out an application, grabbing your proof of identity, and then going in person to Mississippi DPS (department of public safety), which serves as the Mississippi DMV.
You’ll then have to pass a vision exam, a computerized exam, and a driving skills test. Your driver’s license will arrive in the mail about a week later, and it’s good for four years.
Voter registration
You can register to vote using online services for the application you then go to your local post office to mail it to your county office.
What Should I Look for in Mississippi Moving?
Moving from Denver to Jackson is a long-distance move, so be careful who you trust with your precious possessions. You want a reasonable price, but picking the lowest one is not always the best thing. Here’s how to ensure you get the best move for your money.
- Look for reviews. This is a great place to start. Look at Google reviews, and make sure there are plenty of them and that they are favorable.
- Call the mover. Is the phone answered with a company name? If they just answer the phone “movers,” you should move on to the next company.
- Make sure they do an in-person or video inspection. If a mover refuses to come to your home or business and take a look at what you have to move, they can’t be trusted. The likelihood is that they will give you a lowball estimate and then hold your possessions hostage until you pay a big price at the end.
- Ask about extra costs. Some movers charge extra for things like stairs, how far they have to carry to load the truck, and to pick up items from storage. You want to know about these costs upfront, so you not only know what they are but to make an accurate comparison of estimates.
- Make sure they are licensed and insured. All long-distance movers are required to have a United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) number. You can look this up and if your mover is not listed, take a pass. They also should be properly insured in case something happens to your stuff that’s their fault.
- Get a written estimate. A phone estimate is great for a ballpark, but if a moving company won’t give you a written estimate, that’s a red flag.
- Do they have a variety of services? You may want or need help packing and unpacking, furniture assembly and disassembly, or you might have specialty items like a piano that needs to be moved. You want to make sure the mover you hire is prepared to do what you need. You also want to make sure you only pay for the services you actually use.
- Are they experienced? You might want to give that new mover with the great price a chance, but don’t do it. Long-distance moves, like those from Colorado to Mississippi, are complicated, and this is where experience counts.
- Great communication and documentation. If you have questions, you should get prompt answers. You also want to make sure that the mover makes a complete inventory of your items for you to check before you leave and again as they unload.
- Make sure they accept various forms of payment. Your long-distance mover should accept all sorts of payments, including credit cards and checks. If they ask for cash, run rapidly in the opposite direction.
- If they ask for a big deposit, look elsewhere. If your moving company asks for more than 25% of the total estimate, there’s something wrong.
This isn’t a complete list, but it’s one that will set you well along your way to finding the best moving company to get you to Mississippi. There are a lot of Mississippi movers who will take you out of Denver and into your new Mississippi location.
Who Is the Best Mover in Denver for Mississippi Moving?
When it comes to Mississippi movers, you can’t do any better than Eden’s Moving Services with our great reviews and BBB A+ rating. After more than 20 years in business, we know what makes a great, stress-free move. We offer:
- All-inclusive, guaranteed pricing with no hidden fees and no nasty surprises.
- A professionally trained staff.
- Expert packing and unpacking services. We can even build custom crates to move things like fine art, antiques, lamps, and mirrors.
- Attention to detail. We’ll customize your move based on exactly what you need and move everything with the utmost care.
Get a free quote by filling out our simple online form, or give us a call at (720) 370-3455, and we’ll be out to do a thorough on-site inspection. Whether moving from the Denver Metro Area, Colorado Springs, Boulder, or Fort Collins, Eden Moving is your premier Colorado to Mississippi mover that takes the stress and hassles out of your big move.
