Compare states / Mississippi
MS
Compare Mississippi with other states
Mississippi is a mid-sized Southern state: about 3.0 million residents, the 35th-largest population, at 63 people per square mile. It taxes wages, but its top rate of 4.0% is the 11th-lowest among the 41 states that do; its effective property-tax rate of 0.58% is the 15th-lowest among the 50 states. Homes cost less than in most places, with a median value of $196,428 (the 2nd-lowest nationally). Its reported violent-crime rate, 210 per 100,000 residents, is the 6th-lowest in the country.
Data: Mississippi (dor.ms.gov, dps.ms.gov); Tax Foundation 2026, Experian/Zillow, Census, FBI, NPS. Jump to sources · Methodology
Taxes and housing
| State income tax | Top listed rate 4.0% |
|---|---|
| Average sales tax (state + local) | 7.06% |
| Average property tax (real estate) | 0.58% effective |
| Personal property tax (vehicles) | County ad valorem on vehicles, about 3.42% effective |
| Social Security tax | Not taxed. The state exempts Social Security benefits from income tax. |
| Estate tax | No state estate tax. |
| Inheritance tax | No state inheritance tax. |
| Minimum wage | No state minimum wage. Federal $7.25 applies to FLSA-covered employers. |
| Median home value | $196,428 |
Car title and license
| Tax on buying/titling a car | 7.00% |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $9.00 |
| Registration (base) | $14.00 |
| Car inspection | Varies by county — confirm locally |
| Nurse license from another state | Usually transfers (compact) |
Parks and people
| State parks | 24 |
|---|---|
| National parks | 0 |
| Population | 2,958,148 |
| Population density | 63.0 per sq mi |
| Demographics | 55.7% White (non-Hispanic) 3.6% Hispanic 37.9% Black 1.1% Asian |
| Violent crime | 210.5 per 100,000 |
Estimated income tax in Mississippi
Uses 2026 single-filer tax brackets (top listed rate 4.0%) after a per-dependent exemption. Not your actual tax bill.
Estimate car title cost in Mississippi
Uses this state’s title fee, plate, base registration, and 7.00% tax. County extras are not included.
Your move
Your to-do list in Mississippi
- Get an MS driver license within 30 days. Bring your current license, Social Security number, and two proofs you live in Mississippi.
- Title and register the car within 30 days. Inspection: Varies by county — confirm locally.
- Make sure car insurance meets 25/50/25.
- Register to vote. Mississippi elections site.
- Nurse license: Mississippi is in the nurse compact, so a compact RN license often still works. Confirm with the board of nursing if you are changing primary residence.
- Enrolling a kindergartner? Kindergarten age cutoff in Mississippi: September 1. Compare kindergarten cutoffs by state.
How Mississippi compares
Top listed income-tax rate: 4.0% in Mississippi vs 13.3% in California (lower in Mississippi).
Use the picker above for any other state. Published comparison pages that include Mississippi are listed here.
Sources
Compiled 2026. Statewide figures; counties can differ.
- State income tax. Tax Foundation, State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026.
- Average sales tax (state + local). Tax Foundation, State and Local Sales Tax Rates, January 2026.
- Average property tax (real estate). Tax Foundation, Property Taxes by State and County, 2026.
- Personal property tax (vehicles). WalletHub, Property Taxes by State, 2026 (vehicle table).
- Social Security tax. Mississippi does not tax Social Security benefits (MS tax agency).
- Estate tax. Mississippi has no state estate tax (MS tax agency).
- Inheritance tax. Mississippi has no state inheritance tax (MS tax agency).
- Minimum wage. Mississippi $7.25 (federal).
- Median home value. Experian / Zillow, Median Home Values by State, March 2026.
- Tax on buying/titling a car. Mississippi 7.00%.
- State parks. Mississippi 24. Official designated state parks.
- National parks. National Park Service, National Park System (units designated National Park on the National Park Service system list; parks that sit in more than one state are counted in each; MS 0).
- Population / density. U.S. Census Bureau, state population estimates · PopClock people per sq. mi..
- Demographics. U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (MS).
- Violent crime per 100,000. FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 2024 (state rates table).
- Days to get a license. Mississippi 30 days.
- Days to title a car. Mississippi 30 days.
Data last updated: September 2026. How the data is compiled