Accolades
2019
Hattiesburg Ranked #2 in Best Cities to Live Survey (chamberofcommerce.org)
Hattiesburg Wins 2019 Insurify Most Educated Cities Award (Insurify.com)
2018
William Carey ranks as #3 "Best Value" University (U.S. News & World Report)
Merit Health Wesley earns Gold Certification for Excellence in Person-Centered Care (Planetree International)
2017
Hattiesburg, MS ranks in Top 10 places to live on a six-figure salary (MagnifyMoney.com)
Forrest Health, Hattiesburg Clinic and Southern Bone & Joint Specialists combined bring $1.4 billion annually (USM Economic Impact Study)
Two of the top 10 best high schools In Mississippi (Oak Grove and Petal High School) (U.S. News and World Report)
Southern Miss ranked as one of Mississippi's top Institutions of higher learning (BestColleges.com)
Hattiesburg named most livable (small) city in the United States (U.S. Conference of Mayors)
Hattiesburg, MS ranks in Top 50 "Best Cities in the Nation for Post Graduates to Move or Start a New Career (LendEdu)
2016
Merit Health Wesley certified by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and The Joint Commission as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center (Merit Health Wesley)
Forrest Health Ranks in the Top 10% in the Nation Overall Hospital Care (CareChex)
Two of the top 5 best high schools In the State (Oak Grove and Petal High School) (NICHE)
William Carey ranks as a "Best Value in the South" (U.S. News & World Report.)
Mississippi Ranks Top 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirees (Kiplinger)
Southern Miss Named Most Affordable Online College in United States (Affordable Colleges Online)
2015
Hattiesburg named most livable (small) city in the United States. (U.S. Conference of Mayors)
Hattiesburg ranked among top cities for retirement (Where to Retire)
2014
Hattiesburg ranked top 50 for restaurant growth in 2011, 2012 and 2013 (Nielsen)
Hattiesburg ranked in the top 10 college towns 2014 (Livability)
Pearl River Community College ranked the 17th best community college in the Nation (CNN Money)
Southern Miss ranked among the top 50 great affordable college towns (Greatvaluecolleges.net)
Petal ranked #1 safest city in Mississippi (Movoto Real Estate)
2013
William Carey University ranked number one best value for regional universities in the South and #36 for overall quality. (U.S. News & World Report)
50 Best Community Colleges in the United States (Pearl River Community College) (TheBestSchools.org)
Top 5 States for Highest Entrepreneurial Activity (Kauffman Foundation)
Two of the Three Best High Schools in the State (Oak Grove and Petal High Schools) (U.S. News & World Report)
2012
50 Fastest Growing MSA's in the Nation (Census)
100 Fastest Growing Counties in America (Census)
2011
Top 100 Leading Locations (Area Development Magazine)
Top 10 Tax Friendly States for Retirement (Kiplinger)
Top 20 for Best Nightlife and Affordable Housing (Bloomberg Businessweek)
The Best Small Places for Business and Careers (Forbes)
Named Healthy Hometowns (Hattiesburg & Sumrall) (Blue Cross Blue Shield Mississippi Foundation)
America's Top 10 Historic Neighborhoods (Hattiesburg) (American Planning Association (APA))
2010
Ten Great Small Towns to Operate a Business and to Retire (Southern Business & Development)
Top 30 Best Performing Cities (Milken Institute)
14th in Best Cities for Job Growth (NewGeography.com)
Best Adventure Towns (National Geographic)
50 Cities & 10 Lifestyles Energizing Businesses (Entrepreneur Magazine)