Population 21,655 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Petal: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Petal
Household size in Petal
| Period | Petal | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.80 | 2.66 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.92 | 2.67 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.84 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.87 | 2.57 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | −0.09 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Petal holds 2.87 people, more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has crept up from 2.80 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Of the 108 Mississippi cities with 5,000+ people, only seven have larger households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Petal
| Period | Petal | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.2 | 36.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.5 | 37.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.7 | 38.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.1 | 39.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.9 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
At 39.1, the median age in Petal is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 36.2 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Petal
| Period | Petal | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.2% | 15.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 15.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.3% | 14.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.8% | 14.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in Petal (11.8%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in Mississippi overall (14.6%).
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Petal
Renters in Petal
| Period | Petal | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.5% | 29.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.4% | 31.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.5% | 31.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.6% | 30.0% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.6% of households in Petal rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 45.4% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the southwest; owners are most common in the northwest. The renter share has risen 3.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Petal
| Period | Petal | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 13.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 16.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 14.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Petal as nationally: 9.7%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Mississippi overall (14.1%). Vacancy is up 3.4 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Petal
| Period | Petal | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1983 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1984 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Petal has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1989, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the southwest has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Petal
| Period | Petal | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $765 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $833 | $758 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $896 | $819 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $970 | $1,018 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$205 | +$315 | +$606 |
The median renter in Petal pays $970 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $205 a month from 2006–10, a 27% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 25.4% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Petal
Bachelor's degrees in Petal
| Period | Petal | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.3% | 20.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.4% | 21.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.7% | 22.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.9% | 25.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +5.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Petal: 23.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 2.6 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the south.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Petal
| Period | Petal | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.0% | 80.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.9% | 82.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.1% | 84.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.2% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +8.2 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Petal is a bit above the national rate: 92.2% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 8.2 points, in line with the national trend. Petal has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Mississippi cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Petal
| Period | Petal | Mississippi | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 9.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.9% | 7.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 5.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −3.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Petal has been low: just 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 1.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Petal compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petal | 2.87 | 39.1 | 11.8% | 22.6% | 9.7% | 1989 | $970 | 23.9% | 92.2% | 2.9% |
| Dixie Pine | 2.43 | 49.7 | 11.4% | 15.7% | 19.7% | 1985 | $872 | 11.6% | 86.7% | 3.7% |
| Glendale | 3.04 | 38.8 | 9.8% | 8.7% | 9.9% | 2000 | $841 | 32.6% | 94.2% | 4.3% |
| McCallum | 3.24 | 35.1 | 5.4% | 34.5% | 6.4% | 1996 | $1,060 | 18.3% | 96.9% | 3.4% |
| Eastabuchie | 2.89 | 37.9 | 17.8% | 16.6% | 20.0% | 1990 | $563 | 19.2% | 88.3% | 3.9% |
| Hattiesburg | 2.42 | 35.4 | 14.5% | 48.9% | 10.2% | 1986 | $1,145 | 37.9% | 92.2% | 7.0% |
| Maybank | 2.41 | 38.1 | 6.4% | 23.5% | 11.4% | 1984 | $1,052 | 47.2% | 97.9% | 2.4% |
| Hintonville | 2.70 | 37.6 | 6.3% | 18.6% | 6.6% | 1994 | $754 | 7.5% | 91.1% | 0.9% |
| Dixie | 2.61 | 38.1 | 11.8% | 23.1% | 10.7% | 1999 | $1,059 | 44.4% | 93.3% | 6.0% |
| Ovett | 2.64 | 43.6 | 7.9% | 15.3% | 15.2% | 1992 | $697 | 19.0% | 88.7% | 1.5% |
| Mahned | 2.46 | 40.4 | 7.5% | 11.3% | 27.1% | 2002 | $755 | 7.1% | 87.7% | 0.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: South St. Paul, MN · Lakeside, VA · Round Lake, IL · Secaucus, NJ · Shiloh, PA · Siloam Springs, AR · Socastee, SC · South Burlington, VT · South Euclid, OH · South Holland, IL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Petal. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.