Real Estate Investing in Hattiesburg, Mississippi (39401)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Forrest County • Population: 41,916 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 39401 (Hattiesburg, MS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (54/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.0% CAGR).
  • Elevated poverty: 25.4% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $36,552 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Hattiesburg, MS (39401)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $145,492
Avg Monthly Rent $1,071
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $36,552
% Renters 59.3%

Market Analysis: 39401 Hattiesburg

The 39401 ZIP covers a section of Hattiesburg that demands careful diligence. Prices near $145K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

For an experienced owner, 39401 can be a a solid fit for hunting ground — but the discount at $145K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

The gap between 39401 and stronger Hattiesburg ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

A healthy renter share of 59% in 39401 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

New investors are better served looking at Hattiesburg's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 39401. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Hattiesburg:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
10/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,071/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Hattiesburg, MS Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
75 days
Average time to sell
Slow
8.5%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Hattiesburg, MS metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$154K$141K$129K$117K$105K$93KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,192$1,131$1,070$1,008$947$886Apr 2023Dec 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 39401 Compare?

Metric 39401 Hattiesburg Hattiesburg, MS Mississippi
Home Value $145,492 $84,874 N/A $186,446
5-Year CAGR 1.0% 2.6% N/A 4.0%
Avg Rent $1,071 $1,281 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.7% 5.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 39401? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

59% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 39401 (Hattiesburg, MS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+1.0%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Hattiesburg, MS metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
64%
Days Pending
2/2
75 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $145,492
Monthly Rent $1,071
Price-to-Rent 11.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.8%
Cap Rate 5.7%
5-Year IRR 6.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +2.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.7%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
14.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.0%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 39401

Population: 41,916

💰 Median Household Income
$36,552
This area
$36,552
State
$48,827
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
59.3%
This area
59.3%
State
27.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
State
-17.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.4%
This area
29.4%
State
-11.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
30.0 years
This area
30.0 years
State
10.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.0%
This area
14.0%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 52.6%
White 41.5%
Other/Mixed 4.9%
Hispanic/Latino 1.8%
Asian 1.1%
👶 Under 18
22.5%
This area
22.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.8%
This area
12.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
25.4%
This area
25.4%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 39401

A Avg School Grade
12 Schools
11.6:1 Avg Class Size
$15,635 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

DIXIE ATTENDANCE CENTER

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
507 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,750 Per Student
A Very Good

N R BURGER MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
533 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,078 Per Student
A Very Good

NORTH FORREST HIGH SCHOOL

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
347 Students
👨‍🏫
9.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,750 Per Student
A Very Good

EARL TRAVILLION ATTENDANCE CENTER

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
258 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,750 Per Student
A Very Good

HATTIESBURG STEAM ACADEMY

📚 Grade 06 Middle
👥
205 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,078 Per Student
A Very Good

HAWKINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
289 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,078 Per Student
A Very Good

NORTH FORREST ATTENDANCE CENTER

📚 K – 06 School
👥
214 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,750 Per Student
A Very Good

GRACE CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
345 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,078 Per Student
A Very Good

ROWAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
388 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,078 Per Student
A Very Good

WOODLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
461 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,078 Per Student
B+ Above Average

HATTIESBURG HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
988 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,078 Per Student
C Below Average

LILLIE BURNEY LEARNING CENTER

📚 04 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$16,078 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

4 Nearby 681 Off-Campus Students
C+
William Carey University
5,448 students · 5.0 mi
C
The Academy of Hair Design Six
48 students · 5.9 mi
C
Unlimited Cosmetology School
26 students · 6.6 mi
C+
University of Southern Mississippi
13,110 students · 7.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 681 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of investing works in Hattiesburg, MS?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Hattiesburg, MS. The numbers - $145K homes against $1,071/mo rents - support that play.

What are home prices like in Hattiesburg, MS?

Hattiesburg, MS home values average about $145K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,071/mo in monthly income.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Hattiesburg, MS?

Vacancy in Hattiesburg, MS is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,071/mo.

What is the renter demographic in Hattiesburg, MS?

Hattiesburg, MS draws a reliable base of working renters. Demand at the $1,071/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Is Hattiesburg, MS a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Hattiesburg, MS stands at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $145K and average rents around $1,071/mo. That combination puts it in the robust tier for investor interest.

You know 39401 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 39401 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 39401 ranks in Hattiesburg, MS

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