12 HONEST Reasons NOT to Move to Mississippi (Facts & Stats)

Article Overview: 10 Things to Consider Before Moving to Mississippi

Thinking about living in Mississippi? Think twice.

My name is Nick Starks and I was born and raised in the Magnolia State. I lived in the state until I turned 23 and a job opportunity took me to New York.

Sadly, it wasn’t until I left Mississippi that I realized how essential it is to leave. It was hard to get out (my family and friends still live in Mississippi), but there’s no way in hell I’d return — I’d like to share my 10 reasons why.

Now, before you start stamping your hate mail, my goal for sharing is to call out a state that is putting its residents at a disadvantage. I don’t want to rely on emotions, so I used data and facts to back up my logic.

With that said, feel free to leave me a comment directly and let me know if I missed the mark. But again — I urge you to use facts as well, I’m happy to have a conversation and answer questions!

Living in Mississippi

Note: As long time readers of this website will know, the fun lives in the comments. Don’t forget to take a look below to see what Nick’s neighbors are saying. He updates this post regularly based on feedback received. Cheers!

Why You Shouldn’t Move to Mississippi

Staggeringly Low Life Expectancy

Did you know that Mississippi has the lowest life expectancy in the US?

Yep, the average life expectancy in the state is 74.5 years. Compare that to Hawaii’s average of 81.6 (highest in the country) and it doesn’t take long to realize that living in Mississippi can cut 6 years off your life.

On average, men have is worse than women. In Mississippi, the average life expectancy for a man is 71.4 years (shortest in the nation), compared to 77.7 years for women (second shortest in the country).

Highest Rates of Infant Mortality in the Nation

Moving to Mississippi with the hopes of starting a family? Think twice.

Mississippi’s healthcare system is nothing short of dangerous for birthing mothers and infants. According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), Mississippi has the the highest rate of maternal and infant mortality in the nation.

We’re facing a crisis with our infant mortality rates.

Per the CDC, we’re averaging 9.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is much higher than the national average of 5.6 per 1,000.

To take it a step further, when compared to the state with the lowest infant mortality rate, North Dakota at 2.77 per 1,000, women in Mississippi have a 30% higher chance of losing their baby during birth.

How the hell can we possibly justify that?

We’re the Least Educated State in the USA

So, it turns out we’re the 2nd least educated state in the country.

There’s no reason to sugarcoat it, when it comes to education, our residents are left to fend for themselves (and few choose to do so), which often ends with us being ranked as the least educated state in the USA.

One key factor is the super low rate of residents holding higher education degrees — only 24.8% of adults in Mississippi have a bachelor’s degree, compared to the national average of 35%.

But that’s not where the fun stops, our abysmal high school graduation rates (85%) lag behind the national average as well.

These educational gaps are attributed to various factors, including economic challenges and limited access to educational resources in some areas.

Effort has been made to improve the educational system, but the promises seem to fall short and I’m not holding my breath. I view education as a ticket out of poverty, and sadly, those living in Mississippi don’t get a fair shake.

In an effort to end this section on a lighthearted note, Mississippi kids believe in Santa longer than kids in any other state. Whether that’s good or bad is up to you!

Highest Homicide Rates in the Country

Recent statistics show Mississippi as having one of the highest homicide rates in the United States, with approximately 23.7 homicides per 100,000 people.

This rate is significantly above the national average, which is around 7.8 per 100,000.

You know the drill: Various factors contribute to the staggering homicide rate, including socio-economic challenges and access to firearms.

Homicide rates vary by area, with urban areas (like Jackson) seeing higher instances compared to rural parts of the sate.

High Obesity Rates

Mississippi not only ranks as the state with the highest rates of obesity, but heart disease is the leading cause of death for residents.

Turns out that addicting southern cuisine comes with strings attached, nearly 40% of residents living in Mississippi are classified as obese (practically half!).

The impact of such high obesity rates is far-reaching, affecting not just individual health but also the healthcare system and the state’s economy.

On a personal level, it detrimentally affects quality of life, mobility, and overall well-being. Is it any wonder we’re the 7th unhappiest state in the country to boot?

Racism is (Still) Prevalent

There’s no denying that Mississippi has historically clocked in as one of the most segregated states in the country and I’m hardly the first to tell you that the yolk of bigotry is hard to shake.

The racism and oppression have lingering effects that are felt to this day. But don’t just take my word for it, according to the US census, nearly 57% of Black Mississippi residents live in majority Black neighborhoods (one of the greatest discrepancies in the country).

While overt acts of racism may not be as common as in historical times, systemic and institutional racism still present challenges.

For example, Black residents living in Mississippi have reason to be weary of various sectors like healthcare, education and employment, which have historically given less access to the Black community.

The end result? Black Mississippi residents have lower graduation rates and lower salaries than white residents.

Surely we can’t keep making excuses and/or relying on egregious stereotypes to justify these criminal discrepancies.

Mississippi is Not LGBTQ-Friendly

I’ve had many friends move out of Mississippi after identifying as LGBTQ. Bright minds that were eager to contribute to the community, but were hated out of their home state.

Hard to blame them. Nobody deserves to be disrespected (and downright despised) for not checking the “white and straight” box. Navigating the traditionally conservative landscape is challenging.

And I’m not the only one that sees it this way, Mississippi is one of the worst states in the country for LGBTQ folks.

The state lacks comprehensive anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people, which can impact areas like employment, housing, and public accommodations. All told, if you identify as LGBTQ, you’ll want to think twice before moving to Mississippi.

We Have the Highest Rates of Teen Pregnancies

“https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/slideshows/states-with-the-highest-teen-birth-rates?slide=13”

With the highest teen pregnancy rates in the U.S., Mississippi sees about 28 births per 1,000 teenage girls, which is significantly above the national average of 13.5 births per 1,000.

This high rate is often linked to factors like lack of comprehensive sex education in schools and limited access to reproductive health services.

All told, we’re doing a disservice to our teenagers but limiting their access to real education, especially considering that teen pregnancies are strongly linked to poverty. It’s definitely a rinse-and-repeat cycle.

Sky-High Poverty Rates

Living in Mississippi means facing the reality of high poverty rates, which are evident around every corner. Around 19.1% of the population lives below the poverty line.

This means Mississippi has the second highest poverty rates in the United States.

This can impact daily life in various ways, from access to quality education and healthcare to job opportunities and services.

For locals, this might mean encountering challenges in accessing affordable housing, nutritious food, and reliable transportation.

For me, it meant I had to get the hell out because the opportunities for escaping poverty (education, jobs, etc) were sub-par at best.

The Tap Water Isn’t Safe to Drink

In some areas of the state, particularly smaller rural communities, residents deal with issues like water contamination due to aging infrastructure and limited resources for maintenance and upgrades.

For example, lead levels and other contaminants in water supplies can exceed national standards, posing health risks and earning Mississippi a spot on the list of states with the worst tap water.

If you’re living in Mississippi, you probably know the drill. Rely on bottled water or filtration systems for safe drinking water.

Lack of Career Opportunities

As I mentioned earlier, I was born and raised in Mississippi. I graduated from Ole Miss and moved to NYC to start my career. The reason? The job market in Mississippi sucks.

Folks living in Mississippi like to pride themselves on being blue collar. But what about those that don’t want blue collar jobs? Where does that leave us?

There’s not a lot of job opportunities, which leads to fewer job openings and more competition in certain industries, especially in rural areas.

Key sectors like agriculture and manufacturing are strong, but there’s a growing need for diversification into tech, healthcare, and other emerging fields.

It’s the Most Religious State in the Nation

To be clear, I have nothing against religion. I was raised in a religious household and plan to do the same with my kids, but I find it peculiar that Mississippi is ranked the most religious state in the country.

Why? Because we’re bad at so many things. How does a state that holds itself to the ideals of Christianity end up with the highest rates often pregnancies, infant mortality, poverty and systemic racism in the country?

2 Benefits of Moving to Mississippi

The Low Cost of Living in Mississippi

A lot of folks end up living in Mississippi because of the state’s affordability. People are shocked to discover they can actually afford a home and everyday amenities without working two jobs to get by.

From cheap utilities and gas to groceries and haircuts, everyday living in Mississippi won’t break the bank. But (as mentioned earlier) the affordability comes at a cost.

Affordable Housing Costs

I’ve met so many people over the years that ended up moving to Mississippi to buy a home. I’m hardly the first to tell you that housing prices are obnoxious across the country.

Heck, starter homes in the most populous states (California, New York, Florida) start at $1 Million in desirable cities. Thankfully, that’s not the case in Mississippi.

Not the case in Mississippi where average home prices clock in at $172K. All told, we have some of the lowest housing costs in the nation.

Is Mississippi a Good Place to Live?

So, if you’re still wondering whether Mississippi is a good place to live, I’d say no, not really (for all the reasons mentioned in this comprehensive article).

Disadvantages of Living in Mississippi (Summary)

In sum, here’s a quick roundup of the disadvantages of moving to Mississippi.

1. Staggeringly Low Life Expectancy
2. Highest Rates of Infant Mortality in the Nation
3. We’re the Least Educated State in the USA
4. Highest Homicide Rates in the Country
5. High Obesity Rates
6. Racism is (Still) Prevalent
7. Mississippi is Not LGBTQ-Friendly
8. We Have the Highest Rates of Teen Pregnancies
9. Sky-High Poverty Rates
10. The Tap Water Isn’t Safe to Drink
11. Lack of Career Opportunities
12. It’s the Most Religious State in the Nation

Pin Living in Mississippi

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