Mississippi’s Safest Cities of 2025

Alina Bradford
Cathy Habas
Mar 17, 2025
Icon Time To Read4 min read
Icon CheckEdited ByKit Smith
Icon CheckData Analysis ByDaniel Delgado

For over 11 years, SafeWise experts have conducted independent research and testing to write unbiased, human reviews (not robots). Learn more.

11th annual Safest Cities report banner

Here are the 10 Safest Cities in Mississippi for 2025

See crime rates for the safest cities.

Mississippi residents who took our State of Safety survey were less likely to have experienced gun violence and other violent crimes in the 8 months leading up to our survey compared to the previous year. However, more than 7 in 10 Mississippians believes crime is on the rise.

Meanwhile, violent crime decreased in 9 of Mississippi's 10 safest cities. Every city from last year's list managed to stay in the top 10 for 2025.

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NOTE: If your city is missing from our full report, it means that it was below the population threshold or didn’t submit a complete crime report to the FBI in 2023.

Do people feel safe in Mississippi? Survey insights for 2025

Bar chart comparing how safe Mississippi residents feel, with 54% feeling safe versus the 48% national average.

Bar chart comparing how safe Mississippi residents feel, with 54% feeling safe versus the 48% national average. Image: SafeWise

We didn't have enough data to accurately calculate statewide crime rates for this year's report, but if Mississippi's 10 safest cities are any indication, violent crime may be decreasing across The Magnolia State.

Results from our annual State of Safety also suggest that violent crime, gun violence, and property crime occurred less often year over year. Package theft may be on the rise, however.

More than half of Mississippi respondents (54%) reported feeling safe in their state, which is up from 35% the previous year and higher than the nationwide average of 48%. Despite these positive signs, 72% believe crime is increasing—the highest percentage in the nation.

Find safety and security resources in Mississippi.

Property crime in Mississippi: Fear vs. reality

The percentage of Mississippians who experienced property crime fell year over year and is now one of the lowest percentages in the nation. Concern about property crime decreased slightly too. On the other hand, Mississippians are more likely to experience package theft compared to the year before, but their level of concern has dropped significantly.

  • 21% said they had personal experience with property crime during the 8 months prior to our survey, down from 28% the year before (US 27%).
  • Residents of only six states reported less property crime than Mississippians: Georgia (20%), Wisconsin (20%), South Dakota (20%), Rhode Island (19%), North Carolina (17%), and Massachusetts (16%). 
  • Daily concern about property crime decreased slightly from 60% to 59% year over year (US 54%). It's Mississippians' second biggest concern behind violent crime.
  • Over 1 in 3 (34%) of Mississippi residents said they had personally experienced package theft in the 8 months prior to our survey, up from 31% the year before (US 37%).
  • Daily concern about package theft fell from 56% to 42%—the fifth lowest percentage nationwide (US 52%).
  • Mississippians prefer to protect their property with security cameras (47%), firearms (40%), and guard dogs (34%). 
  • Nearly 4 in 10 respondents (39%) told us they increased their security measures in the 8 months prior to the survey (US 37%).
"My biggest concern was break ins. There were a lot of break ins in the neighborhood."
—Mississippi resident*

What security measures are used the most in Mississippi?

Top security measures used in Mississippi: firearms, security cameras, and guard dogs, compared to national trends.

Top security measures used in Mississippi: firearms, security cameras, and guard dogs, compared to national trends. Image: SafeWise

What crimes are Mississippi residents concerned about most?

Bar chart of top crime concerns in Mississippi, showing violent crime, property crime, gun violence, and package theft rates.

Bar chart of top crime concerns in Mississippi, showing violent crime, property crime, gun violence, and package theft rates. Image: SafeWise

Violent crime in Mississippi: Fear vs. reality

The percentage of Mississippians who told us they experienced violent crime in the 8 months prior to our survey fell considerably year over year but remains higher than the national average. Concern about violent crime rose during the same time period. 

  • 17% of Mississippians experienced violent crime in the 8 months prior to our survey, down from 23% the previous year (US 14%).
  • The percentage of Mississippi residents who worry about violent crime on a daily basis increased from 56% to 62% year over year (US 59%).
  • 46% of survey participants report using some form of personal protection—that's the fifth highest percentage nationwide (US 35%).
  • Mississippi residents prefer to protect themselves with firearms (30%), pepper spray (22%), and pocket knives (19%).
  • Mississippi residents report the second highest use of pepper spray behind Virginians.
"My biggest concerns are the lack of security in the neighborhood and stopping violence that occurs every other week."
—Mississippi resident*

Attitudes about gun violence in Mississippi

  • 15% of Mississippians experienced gun violence in the 8 months prior to our survey, down from 21% the year before (US 11%).
  • Residents of only six states were more likely to have experienced gun violence than Mississippians: Georgia (20%), Louisiana (19%), Kentucky (19%), Maine (18%), Oklahoma (16%), and Michigan (16%).
  • The percentage of Mississippi residents who worry about gun violence on a daily basis increased from 53% to 58% year over year (US 57%).
  • Mississippians worry about violent crime and property crime more than they worry about gun violence. 
  • Guns are the most popular form of personal protection in Mississippi, with 30% saying they carry a concealed firearm (US 15%).
  • Mississippians tie with Alabamans for being most likely to carry a concealed firearm. 
  • Mississippi had 24 mass shootings in 2024, down from 25 in 2023. 
"There seems to be an increase of attacks happening in common places were people gather. Like malls and parades that cause a level of anxiety about being out in public spaces."
—Mississippi resident*

*Quotes collected from our latest State of Safety survey.

A closer look at the safest cities in Mississippi

For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.

  • 35 cities met the criteria for ranking this year.
  • Petal is Mississippi's safest city for the second year in a row.
  • All 10 of the safest cities appeared on last year's list as well. 
  • Every city except Clinton saw a year-over-year decrease in violent crime.
  • Petal and Richland have seen drops in both violent and property crime rates for 2 years in a row, while Brandon and Long Beach saw declines in both categories just in the last year. 
  • 2 cities reported zero murders, rapes, and robberies: Petal and Madison

The 10 safest cities in Mississippi

Map of the safest cities in Mississippi for 2025, listing top 10 ranked cities based on SafeWise crime data.

Map of the safest cities in Mississippi for 2025, listing top 10 ranked cities based on SafeWise crime data. Image: SafeWise

#1
Petal
(
-0-
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    11,338
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.5, 0.7, 1.4
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    3.8, 4.3, 5.0
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Brandon, Mississippi
#2
Brandon
(
+2
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    25,676
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.8, 1.1, 0.5
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    3.6, 4.9, 5.0
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
#3
Hernando
(
-0-
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    18,466
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.5, 0.9, 0.8
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    5.4, 5.4, 9.2
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Madison, Mississippi
#2
Madison
(
-2
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    27,788
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.4, 0.5, 0.2
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    6.3, 5.9, 4.6
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
#5
Long Beach
(
+1
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    17,251
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.1, 0.5, 0.4
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    10.6, 15.6, 19.9
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
#6
Holly Springs
(
+2
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    6,760
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.8, 3.5, 2.1
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    5.0, 3.2, 3.3
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Richland, Mississippi
#7
Richland
(
+2
Up
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    7,374
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.2, 1.4, 2.7
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    9.0, 14.1, 18.9
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Clinton, Mississippi
#8
Clinton
(
-3
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    26,518
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.1, 0.9, 1.8
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    12.1, 11.0, 12.3
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
Waveland, Mississippi
#9
Waveland
(
-2
Down
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    6,820
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    0.3, 0.7, 1.1
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    16.0, 14.6, 34.4
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime
#10
Byram
(
-0-
)
  • Circle Population
    Population
    12,568
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    1.0, 2.4, 2.5
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2025, 2024, 2023
    14.2, 11.1, 18.0
  • Info
    VC=Violent crime, PC=Property crime

How we determined the safest cities

Learn how we identified the safest cities on our methodology page.

How to make a safe home anywhere

Over 6 in 10 Americans surveyed don't have a home security system, despite over 50% of all burglaries being residential. Unfortunately, a majority of people who have a security system added it after they had a break-in. One of the best ways to stop a burglary before it happens—and get immediate help if a break-in is detected—is to add a monitored home security system.

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Find the safest cities in each state

Click on the state below to check out the safest cities for each state.

Find all endnotes and sources in our full methodology.

FBI Crime Data Explorer, "Documents & Downloads." Accessed March 17, 2025.

  • 2023 Crime in the United States Annual Reports
    • Offenses Known to Law Enforcement
  • 2023 NIBRS Estimation Tables

Bureau of Justice Statistics, "National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)." Accessed March 17, 2025.

Gun Violence Archive, "Mass Shootings." Accessed March 17, 2025.

Alina Bradford
Written by
Alina is a safety and security expert with over 25 years of experience. She has contributed her insights to CNET, CBS, Digital Trends, MTV, Top Ten Reviews, and many others. After testing thousands of devices, apps, services, and more, her goal is to make safety and security gadgets less mystifying one article at a time. In the early 2000s, Alina worked as a volunteer firefighter, earning her first responder certification and paving the way to her current career. Plus, she has tested hundreds of pieces of security and safety equipment over the years. Places published: CBS, MTV, CVS, Rachael Ray, eBay, Reader’s Digest, ConsumerAffairs, and more. Certifications: Fire Service Training, Oklahoma State University. Awards: Received the Experience Leader certificate from Authority, putting her “in the top 25% among the thousands of professional content creators analyzed by Authory for the Fall 2023 audit.” You can view more of Alina's work at alinabradford.com.

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