City Profile

Gulfport, Mississippi

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Gulfport is the second-largest city in Mississippi, nestled along the picturesque coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. Established in the late 19th century as a major shipping port, the city has evolved into a vibrant hub combining maritime commerce, tourism, and a relaxed coastal lifestyle. Residents and newcomers are drawn to Gulfport for its sandy beaches, rich history, and the welcoming hospitality characteristic of the American South. The city balances an industrious economic foundation with recreational coastal amenities, making it a unique place to live along the Mississippi Sound.

About Mississippi

Mississippi, located in the Southern United States, is characterized by its rich history, warm climate, and a predominantly rural, unhurried lifestyle. The state's economy, historically rooted in agriculture, particularly cotton, has diversified to include manufacturing and a rapidly expanding services sector, with major industries now encompassing automotive, shipbuilding, aerospace, forestry, and food processing. Living in Mississippi is generally affordable, boasting one of the lowest costs of living in the U.S., with housing, groceries, and utilities typically below the national average. The climate features mild winters, allowing for year-round outdoor activities.

72,926

Population

$52K

Avg Salary

Cost Index

58.1

Quality Score

How this 58/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 58 / 100	58.0	30%	17.4
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 86.0	61.3	25%	15.3
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $53,400 Income needed to live here: $45,000 Unemployment rate: 4.5%	58.5	20%	11.7
Growth	Population growth rate: 0.5% Job growth rate: 1.8%	46.8	15%	7.0
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 67 / 100	67.0	10%	6.7
Overall score				58.1

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 1 (fast) (q=52, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 17 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Gulfport remains notably lower than the national average, making it an attractive destination for budget-conscious families, retirees, and remote workers alike. Housing costs, including both renting and purchasing property, are significantly more affordable compared to larger metropolitan hubs across the United States. Everyday expenses such as groceries, utilities, and transportation also track well below national benchmarks, allowing residents to stretch their income further without sacrificing quality of life.

Average Rent

$1,250/mo

Groceries

$380/mo

Transport

$110/mo

Utilities

$170/mo

Healthcare

$230/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$40.00

Cinema ticket

$12.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$18.00

Monthly groceries

$380.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$120.00

Income

Salary Insights

Gulfport's economy is anchored by maritime trade through the Port of Gulfport, tourism, healthcare, and a significant military presence tied to nearby defense installations. The Port of Gulfport serves as a major international shipping gateway, driving logistics, warehousing, and manufacturing employment in the region. Additionally, the hospitality and gaming sectors along the Mississippi Gulf Coast provide robust employment opportunities, while healthcare systems offer steady professional careers.

The average salary in Gulfport is $52,000 per year. You would need approximately $45,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Retail Trade +1.20% Healthcare & Social Assistance +2.20% Public Administration +1.00% Manufacturing & Logistics +2.00% Hospitality & Tourism +1.90%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

69°F

Avg Temp

☀️

87°F

Summer High

❄️

46°F

Winter Low

🌧️

56.60"

Annual Rain

💧

74.00%

Humidity

🌤️

227

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Gulfport is primarily centered on automobile travel, with major highways like U.S. Route 90 and Interstate 10 providing efficient regional access. Public transportation is available via local bus services, though most residents rely on personal vehicles for daily commuting and errands. The city's layout and grid system generally keep traffic congestion manageable compared to larger urban areas.

22 min

Avg Commute

35.00/10

Transit Score

42.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Median home prices and overall cost of living remain significantly lower than the US national average per census data.

Abundant access to coastal recreation, including public beaches, fishing charters, and boating opportunities.

Strategic location along the Gulf Coast with a major international shipping port driving regional employment.

Mild winter temperatures and plenty of sunny days throughout the year.

Rich local culinary scene highlighting fresh Gulf seafood and traditional Southern cuisine.

Drawbacks

Vulnerability to tropical storms and hurricanes during the Atlantic hurricane season.

Higher than average humidity levels during the extended summer months.

Limited public mass transit options, resulting in high car dependency.

Certain urban neighborhoods experience elevated property crime rates.

Local wages and median household incomes trail behind national averages.

Head to Head

Compare Gulfport

Gulfport VS Grants Pass Gulfport VS Cincinnati Gulfport VS Binghamton Gulfport VS Elyria

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Community Q&A

Questions about Gulfport

What people ask about living in and moving to Gulfport, Mississippi.

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Gathering the most common questions about Gulfport…

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.

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