Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Starkville, MS
Starkville's price-to-income ratio is 6.2x — homes cost 6.2 times the local median household income of $39,333. Housing is stretched relative to local incomes. Many workers are effectively priced out of buying, creating deep rental demand. This is favorable for landlords but also means your tenants may be more cost-sensitive.
A typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home in Starkville (20% down at 7%) is approximately $1,629/mo for principal and interest alone — add taxes and insurance and the all-in payment reaches roughly $1,845. The median rent of $1,510/mo is roughly comparable to buying costs — in this environment, renters choose flexibility while buyers choose equity building. When renting is cheaper than buying, the renter pool stays deep and vacancy stays low.
The median household income in Starkville is $39,333, with a population of 50,000 growing at 0.2% per year. Starkville is a smaller market. Research the local employment base carefully — smaller cities can be significantly impacted by a single employer's decisions.
Despite higher relative prices, Starkville compensates with deep rental demand from a large population priced out of homeownership. Focus on neighborhoods where rent growth is strongest and tenant quality is highest.
Starkville vs Mississippi state average and national average across key investment metrics. Starkville beats the national average but trails the Mississippi average on cap rate.