FAQ & News

We have a saying around here that you can’t shovel sunshine. So if you are looking to escape cold weather, Hancock County and the Mississippi Gulf Coast offer an ideal climate. While the area experiences a subtle change of seasons, overall the temperatures remain mild and pleasant year-round. Winter temperatures average 52 degrees in January and the average temperature in July is 83 degrees. The area has an average precipitation of 62 inches annually, and snowfall is rare.

Gulf Coast real estate prices are very affordable, with the average price of a home in the mid $150s. Charming cottages are available to large estates. New residents who have relocated from other markets find that their housing dollar goes much farther here, allowing them to “buy more home” in terms of square footage, size of homesite, and finish levels.

Yes, however, they tend to get leased very quickly. We advise that you contact a licensed real estate agent to help you with your search and locate homes that may be on the market or will soon be available.

Hancock County is fortunate to be able to offer both high-performing public and private schools. Our schools have been recognized with National Blue Ribbon Awards, have one of the highest graduation rates in the state, 88% of students are college bound and routinely perform above average on standardized tests, garner over $26 million in scholarships annually, and are members of multiple championship scholar-athlete programs. For detailed rankings and test scores, please consult the Mississippi Department of Education. In addition, Hancock County is the only district where students can work directly with scientists and engineers from NASA’s Stennis Space Center and Naval Oceanographic & Meteorology Command.

According to BestPlaces.Net, residents of Hancock County enjoy a cost of living that is 9% below the national average, at 91 out of 100. Average expenses in the areas of housing, food, gas, utilities and healthcare are all well below the national average. In addition, the area has the lowest tax burden in the country. There is no tax on retirement income. There is also no estate tax, gift tax, state real estate tax, intangible personal property tax, or local income tax. There is also an additional exemption on local property taxes.

Residential property is taxed at 10% of assessed value and then by a local millage rate. The market value is determined by the local tax assessor. Automobiles are accessed at 30% of market value, and the tax is reduced each year by a percentage designated by the State Legislature.. Contact the Hancock County Tax Collector at (228) 467-4425 or visit www.hancockcountyms.gov.

Visit the Hancock Chamber of Commerce’s website and search our free membership directory. CLICK HERE.