If you are considering relocating somewhere in Mississippi for your retirement, it is a good idea to know about some of the best retirement spots in the state. If you want to retire in the Magnolia State,
MarketWatch has several favorite cities, each with its individual appeal to seniors.
Free Retirement Calculator: When Can You Retire? — Click Here to Find Out
- Oxford - A university town, Oxford has a slightly higher-than-average cost of living, MarketWatch notes. However, having the University of Mississippi as a next-door neighbor means seniors can take up to four hours of courses each semester for free, part of the "Ole Miss" lifelong learning program – or join other visitors in browsing university museum collections from Roman and Greek antiquities to B.B. King's personal album collection. Oxford is also one of Mississippi's 15 "Certified Retirement Cities," which means it met criteria from the state based on cost of living, access to health care, quality of life, low crime and low taxes and is marketed outside the state as a haven for retirees.
- Gulfport - Still rebounding from Hurricane Katrina, the city nonetheless offers six miles of Gulf beaches, along with casinos, shopping, recreation, and renowned seafood restaurants. A senior center is active in sponsoring events and organizing volunteer activities. Nearby attractions are the bright lights of New Orleans, 90 minutes away, and a ferry from Gulfport to West Ship Island, home to shelling and swimming. Cost of living is 7.2 percent below the national average, MarketWatch says. Mississippi's entire Gulf Coast is designated a Certified Retirement Community.
How Soon Can You Retire? Free Test Shows You When — Click Here
- Hattiesburg - Hattiesburg's two main advantages are a low cost of living – 10.6 percent below the national average – and a central location with less than two hours' driving time to the capital, Gulf Coast, or bright lights of New Orleans. However, stick around town and there are three college campuses with cultural events, concerts, speakers, and "lifelong learning" opportunities for seniors. A historic downtown includes a theater, art gallery and historical museum. Senior volunteers are welcome at the historical society and the city parks. Hattiesburg's also a Mississippi certified retirement community.
- Olive Branch - Here's where you go in Mississippi for music. It's a next-state neighbor of Memphis, Tenn., which it makes it a perfect city for seniors who love live blues music, art galleries, and food but still want to return to a quiet home at night. Olive Branch itself has a late-winter, early-spring series of monthly art exhibits. Memphis's big-city health care services are also a plus for seniors in nearby Olive Branch, MarketWatch says.
- Jackson
- The state capital of Mississippi, Jackson made U.S. News and World Report's list of "Best Places to Retire for Under $40,000," citing a 2011 median housing cost of $1,053 a month with a mortgage, $329 without, and a median monthly rental cost of $624.
An Extremely Simple Way to Determine If You're Ready to Retire — Find Out Now
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.