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City · 34,137 residents · Lauderdale County, Mississippi

Meridian , Mississippi

In Meridian, a typical home is worth $107,900 and typical rent is $910 a month. Compared with all of Lauderdale County, typical household income is 28% lower, the typical home value is 19% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 16 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $107,900

    19% below the county

    36% below Mississippi

    • Meridian
    • Lauderdale
    • Mississippi

  • Typical rent

    $910a month

    5% below the county

    5% below Mississippi

    • Meridian
    • Lauderdale
    • Mississippi

  • Typical household income

    $36,562a year

    28% below the county

    35% below Mississippi

    • Meridian
    • Lauderdale
    • Mississippi

  • Households that own their home

    49%

    16 points below the county

    21 points below Mississippi

    • Meridian
    • Lauderdale
    • Mississippi

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$109,319
1.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,290 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Meridian is in Lauderdale County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lauderdale County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Meridian apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Louisville, the typical rent is $617: 32% less than in Meridian ($910).

  2. Meridian has the 4th lowest typical household income of the 67 cities in Mississippi with more than 5,000 people ($36,562).

  3. 49% of households in Meridian own their home, against 65% in Lauderdale County.

  4. The typical home in Meridian is worth $107,900, 19% less than in Lauderdale County as a whole ($133,300).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Meridian

What homes there are in Meridian, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

As in Lauderdale County, most homes in Meridian are detached houses (61%).

Year built

In Meridian, half of the homes were built before 1969; in Lauderdale County, before 1979.

There are fewer big homes in Meridian than in Lauderdale County: 58% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 68%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 95% of owner-occupied homes in Meridian sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

Measured against HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,006), about 61% of rented homes in Meridian cost less.

With a mortgage

$1,114 a month

Lauderdale County: $1,277 a month

Without a mortgage

$432 a month

Lauderdale County: $428 a month

Owners with a mortgage

52%

Lauderdale County: 48%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Meridian is $1,114 a month, less than in Lauderdale County ($1,277); without one, $432.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Meridian rose 30%; in Lauderdale County, it rose 38%.

Much as in Lauderdale County, the typical rent in Meridian rose 25% since 2015–2019.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureMeridianLauderdale CountyMississippiUnited States
Rental vacancy 7.4%6.8%8.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 2.1%1.7%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.272.392.492.53
Drive alone 79%80%82%69%
Carpool 12%11%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%1%3%
Work from home 5%5%6%15%
Other means 3%3%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in Meridian look like those in Lauderdale County: the rental vacancy rate is 7.4%.

Much as in Lauderdale County, 2.1% of households in Meridian have more than one person per room.

On average, a household in Meridian has 2.27 people, fewer than in Lauderdale County (2.39).

The car rules in Meridian: 79% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Meridian?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Meridian, worth $107,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 30% of the typical household income in Meridian, which is $36,562 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $39,471 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lauderdale County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Meridian. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $3,777 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$921

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$105,945
Total interest
$152,430
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $1,822 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $853 a month

  • Tight

    $853 to $1,097 a month

    Your payment · 30%

  • Hard

    more than $1,097 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Meridian ($36,562 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$921
Principal & interest$718
Property tax$111
Home insurance$45
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$48

You need at least $3,777 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Meridian and Lauderdale County

Meridian is in Lauderdale County, Mississippi. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Meridian's own numbers

Typical home value
$107,900
Typical monthly rent
$910
Typical yearly household income
$36,562
Households that own their home
49%
Effective property tax rate
1.23%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Lauderdale County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,006
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+33%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
4.8%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Lauderdale County.

Everything about Lauderdale County

Buying

Buying a home in Meridian

A typical home in Meridian is worth $107,900: 19% below the county and 36% below Mississippi. With the typical household income in Meridian ($36,562 a year), a typical home costs 3.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Meridian 3.0 years
  • Lauderdale 2.6 years
  • Mississippi 3.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Lauderdale County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lauderdale County rose 37% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lauderdale County.

Period County Mississippi U.S.
Last year (2025) +7.6% +3.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +33% +42% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +37% +62% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Meridian next to Lauderdale County, Mississippi and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Meridian $107,900
  • Lauderdale $133,300
  • Mississippi $169,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Meridian $910
  • Lauderdale $953
  • Mississippi $954
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Meridian $36,562
  • Lauderdale $50,817
  • Mississippi $56,447
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Meridian next to Lauderdale County and Mississippi
Measure Meridian Lauderdale County Mississippi U.S.
Typical home value $107,900 $133,300 $169,800 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $910 $953 $954 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $36,562 $50,817 $56,447 $80,734
Households that own their home 49% 65% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,332 $1,228 $1,215 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.23% 0.92% 0.72% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 55% 53% 51% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lauderdale County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Meridian

For a typical $107,900 home in Meridian, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Meridian's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $921a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $3,777
    Cash to close
    $7,014
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $48

  • Conventional, 5% down $901a month

    Down payment
    $5,395
    Cash to close
    $8,632
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $51

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $740a month

    Down payment
    $21,580
    Cash to close
    $24,817
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $840a month

    Down payment
    $16,185
    Cash to close
    $19,422
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Meridian and for Lauderdale County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Meridian

1.23%of the home’s value each year

$1,332 a year for the typical owner in Meridian.

  • Meridian 1.23%
  • Lauderdale 0.92%
  • Mississippi 0.72%

What Mississippi publishes Regular homestead exemption (Tier 1) (Mississippi Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Mississippi

Flood risk in Lauderdale County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Lauderdale County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
4.8%
1,501
Of those, with NFIP insurance
19%
County Mississippi U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 4.8% 7.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 19% 33% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Meridian

Typical rent in Meridian is $910 a month: 5% below the county. In Meridian, 55% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lauderdale County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,006 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.35 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Lauderdale County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $877 $16.87 $35,080
1 bedroom $896 $17.23 $35,840
2 bedrooms $1,006 $19.35 $40,240
3 bedrooms $1,328 $25.54 $53,120
4 bedrooms $1,332 $25.62 $53,280

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Meridian

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Meridian has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $910 in 39307 to $1,120 in 39305.

1 of the 3 is above the fair market rent for Lauderdale County ($1,006).

  • 39301 $990$1,300
  • 39305 $1,120$1,480
  • 39307 $910$1,200

3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Meridian when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Meridian

HUD lists 27 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Meridian. These are the largest.

  • Scattered Sites 107 71st Pl, Meridian 39307 250 low-income homes · Run by The Housing Authority of the City of Meridian · Average payment: $276 a month · Average wait: 14 months · Homes at several sites (601) 693-4285
  • Scattered Sites 200 23rd St, Meridian 39301 194 low-income homes · Run by The Housing Authority of the City of Meridian · Average payment: $255 a month · Average wait: 19 months · Homes at several sites (601) 693-4285
  • George M. Reese Courts 1318 19th St, Meridian 39301 169 low-income homes · Run by The Housing Authority of the City of Meridian · Average payment: $283 a month · Average wait: 13 months (601) 693-4285
  • MTN. View Village 2305 D St, Meridian 39301 138 homes, 137 low-income · Run by The Housing Authority of the City of Meridian · Average payment: $282 a month · Average wait: 6 months (601) 693-4285
  • Carousel Place 4610 Vally St, Meridian 39307 130 low-income homes · 1 bd: 22 · 2 bd: 58 · 3 bd: 50 · In service since 2008

See all 28 buildings in Lauderdale County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Meridian

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lauderdale County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A young woman and a young man point to a line in their notes beside a laptop in a library.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Meridian

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Meridian or Lauderdale County. The ones below are statewide in Mississippi: they work in Meridian the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Mississippi

  • Smart7 Mortgage Program

    Statewide in Mississippi

    Mississippi state corporation 30-year mortgage with $7,000 for the down payment or closing costs as a 0% second mortgage, repaid when you sell, refinance, stop living in the home or pay off the mortgage; no first-time buyer requirement. Offered by Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Easy8

    Statewide in Mississippi

    Mississippi state corporation 30-year mortgage with $8,000 at 0% as a second mortgage for the down payment, closing costs or prepaid expenses, repaid when you sell, refinance, stop living in the home or pay off the mortgage; for first-time buyers, except in designated areas and for veterans. Offered by Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Home4All

    Statewide in Mississippi

    Mississippi state corporation forgivable grant, with federal HOME funds, of up to $25,000 for the down payment, closing costs or to reduce the principal; for first-time buyers with incomes under 80% of the area median and a fixed-rate mortgage; if you sell before 5 or 10 years (depending on the amount), you may repay part of it. Offered by Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Meridian

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Meridian, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Housing Economic Resources and Education

    602 Adeline St, Hattiesburg · 81 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (601) 658-8654

  • Breakthrough Community Services, Inc

    1313 Country Club Rd, Hattiesburg · 83 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (601) 582-3475

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - Jackson, MS

    405 Briarwood Dr, Jackson · 85 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (601) 922-4008

All counseling agencies in Mississippi

Help in Spanish near Meridian

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Meridian

HUD’s record names them for Meridian or Lauderdale County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • The Housing Authority of the City of Meridian Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (601) 693-4285

All housing agencies in Mississippi Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Meridian, with the typical home value.

Everything about Lauderdale County Housing in Mississippi

Neighboring counties

If Lauderdale County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Meridian.

All guides
A mother smiles as she carries her young daughter on her shoulders (black and white).

Questions

Housing questions about Meridian

Short answers with the numbers for Meridian and all of Lauderdale County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Meridian?

The typical home value in Meridian is $107,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lauderdale County it is $133,300.

How much does it cost to rent in Meridian?

Typical rent in Meridian is $910 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lauderdale County is $1,006.

What is the FHA loan limit in Meridian?

Meridian uses the FHA limit for all of Lauderdale County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Meridian?

The typical homeowner in Meridian pays $1,332 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.23% of the home’s value; in Lauderdale County, the rate is 0.92%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Meridian?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lauderdale County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).