Hattiesburg, MS vs Pearl, MS

Hattiesburg is moderately more affordable than Pearl, with a 7.9% lower cost of living index. Hattiesburg scores 74 compared to 80 for Pearl, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Pearl can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Hattiesburg is $995/month compared to $1,152/month in Pearl — a 14% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Hattiesburg is more affordable at $153,600 median vs $170,900.

Median household income in Hattiesburg is $44,140 compared to $54,643 in Pearl (-19.2%). While Pearl is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Hattiesburg spend roughly 27.1% of their income on rent, more than the 25.3% in Pearl.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (66.5°F vs 65.4°F). Hattiesburg receives more rainfall at 58.9" per year compared to 57.3" in Pearl.