Petal

Forrest County, Mississippi

Population 78K |Median income $53,640 |1 hospital

Population

78,272

Forrest County

Median Income

$53,640

-21% vs avg

Median Home Value

$168,000

-26% vs avg

Median Age

years

10-Year Trends 2013–2024

20132024

Population

78K+3%

Median Income

$53,640+46%

Median Home Value

$168,000+43%

Poverty Rate

21%-24%

Unemployment

6.6%-47%

Economics

Median Rent

$972/mo

Poverty Rate

21% +48% vs avg

Unemployment 6.6%

Bachelor's Degree+ 30.6%

Work From Home 4%

Public Transit 0.3%

Population

White 56.6%

African American 35.5%

Two or More Ethnicities 2.5%

Asian 1%

Health Profile 15 measures

Health Indicators

High Blood Pressure

39.5%

Short Sleep Duration

38.4%

Obesity

35.8%

Physical Inactivity

29.8%

Frequent Mental Distress

18.4%

Current Smoking

15.2%

Binge Drinking

14.9%

Frequent Physical Distress

13.7%

Diabetes

13.1%

Lack of Health Insurance

10.8%

Preventive Care

Dental Visit 9.9%

Annual Checkup 80%

Other Measures

Current Asthma

10%

Coronary Heart Disease

6.2%

Stroke

3.8%

Hospitals 1 total

Rating Distribution

★★★★★

★★★★

★★★

★★

★

Average Rating

2/5

Total Hospitals

With ER

FORREST GENERAL HOSPITAL

HATTIESBURG · Acute Care Hospitals · ER

★★☆☆☆

Alerts & News — Petal Area 6

Weather Alerts high

Special Marine Warning Issued for Gulf Waters Near Pensacola and Pascagoula

NOAA · 35m ago

Weather Alerts high

Special Marine Warning Issued for Waters from Pensacola to Pascagoula Until 7:30 AM CDT

NOAA · 36m ago

Weather Alerts high

Special Marine Warning Issued for Louisiana and Mississippi Coastal Waters

NOAA · 6h ago

Weather Alerts high

Special Marine Warning Issued for Gulf Waters Off Florida and Mississippi Coastline

NOAA · 12h ago

Weather Alerts high

Special Marine Warning Issued for Louisiana and Mississippi Coastal Waters Through 7:00 AM CDT

NOAA · 12h ago

Weather Alerts high

Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for East Central Mississippi Through 1:00 AM

NOAA · 1d ago

Frequently Asked Questions 6

What is the population of Petal, MS? ▼

Petal, MS has a population of 78,272 people, located in Forrest County, Mississippi.

What is the median household income in Petal? ▼

The median household income in Petal, MS is $53,640 per year. The poverty rate is 21%.

What is the median home value in Petal? ▼

The median home value in Petal, MS is $168,000. Median rent is $972/month.

What are the top health concerns in Petal? ▼

The top health indicators in Petal include High Blood Pressure (39.5%), Short Sleep Duration (38.4%), Obesity (35.8%). Data from CDC PLACES.

How many hospitals are in Petal? ▼

Petal has 1 hospital with an average rating of 2/5 stars. 1 have emergency departments.

What is the median age in Petal? ▼

The median age in Petal, MS is 32 years. 30.6% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Safety Context

Petal, MS is located in Forrest County, Mississippi. With a population of 78K and a median household income of $53,640, the community faces health challenges including high blood pressure and short sleep duration. Residents have access to 1 hospital with an average rating of 2/5 stars. Safety alerts for the Petal area are monitored from federal and state agencies including FEMA, NOAA, FDA, and CPSC.

Safety Guides

How Product Recalls Work

CPSC, FDA & NHTSA recall process explained

Understanding Weather Alerts

Watch vs warning vs advisory explained

Earthquake Magnitude Explained

What the numbers mean & when to act

All safety guides →

Explore More Data

Schools in Mississippi

School ratings, test scores & enrollment → PlainSchools

Crime Rates in Mississippi

FBI UCR crime statistics by city → PlainCrime

Rental Data in Mississippi

HUD fair market rents & vacancy rates → PlainRent

Cost of Living in Mississippi

BEA price parities & Census economics → PlainCost

ZIP Code Data in Mississippi

Demographics & economics by ZIP code → PlainZIP

Nearby Cities 8

Hattiesburg, MS 47K Laurel, MS 19K Bogalusa, LA 12K Carriere, MS 13K Picayune, MS 11K West Gulfport, MS 71K D'Iberville, MS 11K Gulfport, MS 72K

All cities in Mississippi → Browse all cities

Data Sources

All data on this page comes from official U.S. government sources. Population and economic data from the Census Bureau American Community Survey (2022 5-year estimates). Health data from the CDC PLACES program (2023). Hospital ratings from CMS Hospital Compare (2024). Data is county-level (Forrest County) as the smallest consistent geographic unit across all sources.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, FBI UCR, CDC PLACES, and NCES. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.