Petal 72 Excellent
Petal Livability #14 ranked city in Mississippi#5,371 ranked city in the USARanks better than 81% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Petal

PROS
  • Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Crime

    Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.

  • Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

  • Ratings

    Based on recent surveys and polls, locals gave high marks in the walkability to local amenities, safety, public transit, friendliness of neighbors and overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Amenities

    The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute

    A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.

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What's it like Living in Petal?

Petal is a medium-sized city located in the state of Mississippi. The city has a population of 10,624 inhabitants. If we look at the most recent Census, Petal is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Petal is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 23 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Petal could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Mississippi if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Finding the best places to live in Petal and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, crime, commute, education, housing and other important metrics.

Petal has a livability score of 70/100 and is ranked #19 in Mississippi and #5,933 in the USA. Based on the grades for each individual category, Petal has received high marks for crime (A+), cost of living (A+) and housing (B+). Petal does not rank well for the following: amenities (F). It might be a good idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

Feeling a sense of safety in the area that you live in is a must for most people. Low crime rates can have a positive impact on things like home prices, home appreciation rates and can help foster positive community dynamics and social cohesion. Petal has a violent crime rate of 69 crimes per 100,000 residents which is far lower than the national average.

The Petal unemployment rate of 2.69% has continued to decrease over the years and is now well below the national average. The result could lead to reduced poverty and inequality in the area, higher wages and increased economic growth. This is a positive sign in the overall health of the local economy.

Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Petal market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.

Assuming that Petal meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Petal. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Petal are simply unattainable. The median home price for Petal homes is $136,900, which is 29.5% higher than the Mississippi average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Petal, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.4, which is 7.7% lower than the Mississippi average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Petal

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Petal?

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Compare Petal, MS Livability

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      Petal transportation information

      Statistic Petal Mississippi National
      Average one way commute23min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work82.4%84.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool9.8%9.7%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%0.4%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.4%0.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.9%1.5%2.8%
      Working from home2.3%2.2%4.6%
      Source: The Petal, MS data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).