Español

Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

City · 11,294 residents · Forrest County, Mississippi

Petal , Mississippi

In Petal, a typical home is worth $174,900 and typical rent is $1,047 a month. Compared with all of Forrest County, typical household income is 39% higher, typical rent is 8% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 13 points higher.

WhatsApp

  • Typical home value

    $174,900

    4% above the county

    3% above Mississippi

    • Petal
    • Forrest
    • Mississippi

  • Typical rent

    $1,047a month

    8% above the county

    10% above Mississippi

    • Petal
    • Forrest
    • Mississippi

  • Typical household income

    $74,750a year

    39% above the county

    32% above Mississippi

    • Petal
    • Forrest
    • Mississippi

  • Households that own their home

    70%

    13 points above the county

    About the same as Mississippi

    • Petal
    • Forrest
    • Mississippi

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$220,339
2.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,404 a month

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

Petal is in Forrest 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 Forrest County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Petal apart

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

  1. The typical household income in Petal is $74,750, 39% more than in Forrest County as a whole ($53,640).

  2. Nearby, in Laurel, the typical home value is $125,800: 28% less than in Petal ($174,900).

  3. Nearby, in Columbia, the typical rent is $806: 23% less than in Petal ($1,047).

  4. 70% of households in Petal own their home, against 57% in Forrest County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Petal

What homes there are in Petal, 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

The detached house rules in Petal: 82% of homes, more than in Forrest County (63%).

Year built

Homes in Petal are older: the typical year built is 1977; in Forrest County, 1982.

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

The FHA limit for Forrest County is high ($541,287): at least 97% of owner-occupied homes in Petal are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,344 a month

Forrest County: $1,387 a month

Without a mortgage

$503 a month

Forrest County: $436 a month

Owners with a mortgage

58%

Forrest County: 54%

Owning costs about the same in Petal as in Forrest County: with a mortgage, $1,344 a month; without one, $503.

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

The typical home value in Petal rose 24% since 2015–2019, less than in Forrest County (37%).

The typical rent in Petal rose 18% over the same time; in Forrest County, it rose 26%.

The typical household income in Petal rose 34%: more than home values (+24%) and rent (+18%).

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

MeasurePetalForrest CountyMississippiUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate7.4%8.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.6%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.792.452.492.53
Drive alone 81%81%82%69%
Carpool 12%8%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%1%3%
Work from home 5%4%6%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate4%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More people live in each home here: 2.79 on average, against 2.45 in Forrest County.

In Petal, 12% of workers share a car to get to work; in Forrest County, 8%.

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 Petal?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Petal, worth $174,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 23% of the typical household income in Petal, which is $74,750 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Petal. 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 $6,122 (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

$1,439

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$171,732
Total interest
$247,082
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,954 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,744 a month

    Your payment · 23%

  • Tight

    $1,744 to $2,243 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,243 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Petal ($74,750 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,439
Principal & interest$1,163
Property tax$125
Home insurance$73
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$77

You need at least $6,122 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

Petal and Forrest County

Petal is in Forrest 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).

Petal's own numbers

Typical home value
$174,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,047
Typical yearly household income
$74,750
Households that own their home
70%
Effective property tax rate
0.86%

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

Numbers for all of Forrest County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,316
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+49%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
7.9%

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 Forrest County.

Everything about Forrest County

Buying

Buying a home in Petal

A typical home in Petal is worth $174,900: 4% above the county and 3% above Mississippi. With the typical household income in Petal ($74,750 a year), a typical home costs 2.3 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.

  • Petal 2.3 years
  • Forrest 3.1 years
  • Mississippi 3.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Forrest County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Forrest County rose 72% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Mississippi U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.1% +3.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +49% +42% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +72% +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

Petal next to Forrest 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
  • Petal $174,900
  • Forrest $168,000
  • Mississippi $169,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Petal $1,047
  • Forrest $972
  • Mississippi $954
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Petal $74,750
  • Forrest $53,640
  • Mississippi $56,447
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Petal next to Forrest County and Mississippi
Measure Petal Forrest County Mississippi U.S.
Typical home value $174,900 $168,000 $169,800 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,047 $972 $954 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $74,750 $53,640 $56,447 $80,734
Households that own their home 70% 57% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,502 $1,361 $1,215 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.86% 0.81% 0.72% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 47% 52% 51% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Forrest 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 Petal

For a typical $174,900 home in Petal, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Petal's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,439a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,122
    Cash to close
    $11,369
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $77

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,407a month

    Down payment
    $8,745
    Cash to close
    $13,992
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $83

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,146a month

    Down payment
    $34,980
    Cash to close
    $40,227
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,308a month

    Down payment
    $26,235
    Cash to close
    $31,482
    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 Petal and for Forrest County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Petal

0.86%of the home’s value each year

$1,502 a year for the typical owner in Petal.

  • Petal 0.86%
  • Forrest 0.81%
  • Mississippi 0.72%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Mississippi

Flood risk in Forrest County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
7.9%
2,061
Of those, with NFIP insurance
17%
County Mississippi U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 7.9% 7.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 17% 33% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Petal

Typical rent in Petal is $1,047 a month: 8% above the county. In Petal, 47% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Forrest County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,316 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $25.31 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Forrest 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 $916 $17.62 $36,640
1 bedroom $1,117 $21.48 $44,680
2 bedrooms $1,316 $25.31 $52,640
3 bedrooms $1,676 $32.23 $67,040
4 bedrooms $1,730 $33.27 $69,200

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 Petal

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Petal is in ZIP code 39465.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,230: $86 less than the fair market rent for Forrest County ($1,316).

  • 39465 $1,230$1,570

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Petal 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 Petal

HUD lists one building with rents for lower incomes in Petal.

  • Caritas Manor Apartments 145 W Tenth Ave, Petal 39465 33 homes, 32 low-income · For older adults (601) 545-7744

See all 41 buildings in Forrest County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Petal

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.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Forrest County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Petal

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Petal or Forrest County. The ones below are statewide in Mississippi: they work in Petal 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 Petal

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Petal, 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 · 4 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 · 5 miles away

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

  • Renaissance Community Loan Fund

    8917 Lorraine Rd, Gulfport · 66 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 4 more
    (228) 896-3386

Every agency in Forrest County All counseling agencies in Mississippi

Help in Spanish near Petal

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve 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 Petal

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Forrest County is named for Petal or Forrest County.

One other authority has an office in Forrest County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Forrest County

These cities are also in Forrest County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Forrest County Housing in Mississippi

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Forrest 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 Petal.

All guides
A smiling girl holds up a small mushroom she found on a forest outing.

Questions

Housing questions about Petal

Short answers with the numbers for Petal and all of Forrest 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 Petal?

The typical home value in Petal is $174,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Forrest County it is $168,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Petal?

Typical rent in Petal is $1,047 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Forrest County is $1,316.

What is the FHA loan limit in Petal?

Petal uses the FHA limit for all of Forrest 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 Petal?

The typical homeowner in Petal pays $1,502 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.86% of the home’s value; in Forrest County, the rate is 0.81%.

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

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Forrest County. 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).