Hattiesburg, Mississippi Retirement
“Hattiesburg…Your Place for Life”
The Greater Hattiesburg Area has distinguished itself as a retirement destination for those looking for a place to retire. Hattiesburg has been designated a “Certified Retirement Community” by Hometown Mississippi Retirement, a state-sponsored program designed to recruit retirees to the State. This program has identified the best cities and towns in Mississippi that have the necessary amenities and services retirees are looking for in a place to call home. Hattiesburg was the first city to be certified (1995) and has recruited more than a thousand retiree households to the area since inception of the program in 1993.
Special Recognition
Hattiesburg is known as the “Hub City.” It earned this name by its close proximity to several large metro areas accessible by interstates and state highways. Or you can board Northwest Airlines at the Hattiesburg/Laurel Airport twice daily for connecting flights to anywhere in the world. If you feel like getting out town, just hop in the car and in less than one and a half hours, you can be in New Orleans, Mobile, Jackson, or on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in one hour. Florida beaches are only two and a half hours away.
In Mississippi, you get extra benefits not found in most other states. According to nationwide statistics, the cost of living in Mississippi is approximately 10% below the national average. In addition, the State of Mississippi exempted all pension income from state income taxes (Social Security, public and private pensions, IRA’s annuities, etc.). General exemptions and standard deductions will minimize taxes on other income. More information on taxes is available upon request.
Mississippi was ranked as having the sixth lowest overall tax burden in the country according to an article in the August, 1995, issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine
The Greater Hattiesburg Area is home to two state-of-the-art hospitals, Forrest General Hospital (www.forrestgeneral.com) and Wesley Medical Center (www.wesley.com), and the largest multi-specialty clinic, Hattiesburg Clinic (www.hattiesburgclinic.com), with approximately 230 specialty physicians representing every field of medicine. The superb medical facilities in the area also earned Hattiesburg the top community (for cities under 100,000) for healthcare in the Rating Guide to Life in America’s Small Cities. Hattiesburg has 464.7 physicians per 100,000 people as compared to the national average of 169.7.
The most popular educational activities retirees enjoy are through the University Southern Mississippi’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI, www.usm.edu/olli), an association of retired persons who seek continued intellectual and social stimulation. Housed just off campus, the OLLI offers a relaxed setting for sharing learning experience with friends old and new without the pressure of exams or grades. The institute, now almost 500 members, is run by the members who select courses and approve the instructors. OLLI also schedules a number of special-interest classes and trips through out the year. Their content, duration, costs and instructors depend up on the nature of each class.
In addition retirees can audit (if space available) on-going classes at USM. William Carey University (a private Baptist university), Jones Junior College and Pearl River Community College (located within 30 miles of the city), also offer a variety of classes of interest to retirees.
Culture
Events
- Arts Heritage Festival of South Mississippi – held the last Saturday in March each year in the downtown Hattiesburg area. The event offers juried arts booths at the Craftsman’s Village, a Children’s Village with activities for the kids, the Heritage Village showcasing arts and displays from earlier times, the Art Village competition for young artists, a Taste of Hattiesburg restaurants, and three stages of entertainment
- Candlelit Victorian Christmas – historic neighborhood streets are lighted in December with luminaries for visitors to enjoy along with caroling, a tour of homes, and carriage rides
- Quarterly Gallery Walks – held in the Downtown area, antique shops and art galleries as well as restaurants are open to the public with live entertainment
- Rodeos, consumer fairs and concerts are held throughout the year at the Forrest County Multi-purpose Center.
- Special events, performances and conventions are held at the historic Saenger Theater and the Hattiesburg Lake Terrace Convention Center
- The Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera produces exciting Broadway musicals during the year
- Just Over The Rainbow Theater group delights audiences with periodic dinner theater productions
- The Hattiesburg Civic Chorus sponsors the Meistersingers Chorus which holds regular concerts and performs at special events
- The University of Southern Mississippi holds over 300 productions, concerts, recitals, art exhibits, and shows each year. Noted guests include Charley Pride, Itzak Pearlman, Dionne Warrick, Pati Labell, and other celebrities
- William Carey presents the summer dinner theatre and hosts renowned artists’ exhibits in the Lucille Parker Art Gallery
- The Mississippi Military Museum, free to the public, located at Camp Shelby just south of town exhibits over 4,000 pieces (with another 17,000 in storage) of memorabilia and interactive exhibits from the War of 1812 through modern-day conflicts. Some exhibits change every few months.
- The USO African-American Museum, located in downtown Hattiesburg, features documentation and artifacts of the African-American involvement in previous world conflicts.
- Hattiesburg Historical Museum – offers a look at the beginning of life in this region from the 1880’s to present day focusing on the lumber and railroad industries.
If you are interested in participating in outdoor recreation, you can enjoy camping, biking, outdoor photography, bird watching and many other activities in area’s numerous parks, walking trails and campsites.
- Longleaf Trace – 29-mile paved trail from Hattiesburg to Prentiss including a 23-mile equestrian trail that parallels the Trace.
- Little Black Creek - recognized in Field and Stream magazine, water enthusiasts can canoe down the creek, fish, or swim while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Cabins are available for rent.
- Desoto National Forest – hunting, hiking and other outdoor activities are available
- Paul B. John State Park - 300-acre lake for swimming, boating, fishing, and camping. Picnic areas contain double and single shelters for rent and six large pavilions.
- Kamper Park and Zoo – located in the middle of the city is the home of exotic animals and exhibits, a carousel, and a train that takes you around the perimeter of the grounds. The Park is located adjacent to the zoo that features a handicapped-accessible playground.
- All-American Rose garden – is located on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi featuring over 100 different types of rose bushes.
- Twelve beautiful year-round golf courses are within a 30-mile radius. The mild year-round climate and warm Southern hospitality keep people coming back year after year. Most courses are private and semi-private.
- College athletics draw football, basketball, baseball and soccer fans to the campuses year round.
- Tatum Park is a great place to watch the numerous regional and statewide soccer, baseball and tennis tournaments.
Housing costs are approximately 25% below the national average. A variety of housing styles are available from a home in the several historic districts to a lakeside home in the many new developments around the area. Booklets are available upon request that showcase homes available in the current market. For homes/land currently available, go to www.hattiesburgamerican.com and click on “Homes.”
You’ll never run out of places to shop and dine. Fine-dining is a popular pastime among retirees. Many types of cuisine are offered at the over 200 restaurants in the area.
Shopping abounds from one side of town to the other with numerous clothing boutiques and antique shops, as well as our famous Hudson’s Treasure Hunt, Steinmart, and Trees and Trends discount stores. The 900,000 sq. ft. Turtle Creek Mall hosts several large chain department stores. Other nearby stores include Target, Old Navy, Pet Smart, Ashley’s Furniture, Books-A- Million, Talbots, Shoe Station, just to name a few.
Statistics show Hattiesburg we well below the national average for all types of crimes. Recent reports show a decrease rate of 25% in the last year. The Hattiesburg Police Department is dedicated to providing a safe and caring environment for its citizens.
Facts and Figures – Hattiesburg MSA
Hattiesburg has been designated as a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and encompasses the City of Hattiesburg, Forrest County, Lamar County and Perry County. These facts and figures are subject to change.
Population:
Hattiesburg 48,542
Forrest County 75,729
Lamar County 46,741
Perry County 12,358
Hospital Beds 835
Physicians: 400+
Housing:
Average median sales price of a home: $138,800
Average cost of a new 2,000 sq. ft. brick home on a half-acre lot: $176,500
Tax Structure
General Retail Sales 7% State
Food and Beverage 2% City
Lodging 2% City
Property Taxes:
City of Hattiesburg $170.21/$1000 assessed value
Forrest County $121.97/$1000 assessed value
Lamar County $148.39/$1000 assessed value
Motor vehicles: assessed at 30% of true value
Places of Worship 150+
Denominations represented 30
Climate: mild year-round climate
January – average high 58 average low 35
June – average high 89 average low 67
Average Humidity - 86% Noon 66% Midnight
Average Precipitation - 60” AnnuallyMake plans now to come visit us, experience the South’s warmest welcome, and see why so many retirees have chosen to call Hattiesburg home. Call 1-800-238-4288 to schedule a tour with other resident retirees (please call at least two weeks in advance) or to request more information.
For more information, please fill out the form here.
Retirement | Calendar of Events | Contact Us | News | Leadership Pinebelt | Events and Seminars | SiteMap