Living Cost Compare
Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

vs
Hattiesburg

Mississippi

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,030 in Hattiesburg, MS. Overall, Hattiesburg, MS is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $44,140 in Hattiesburg, MS — about 40% higher in Arlington, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX
Hattiesburg, MS

Rent

Studio
$1,088
$630
+42% in Arlington, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$841
+29% in Arlington, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,410
$980
+30% in Arlington, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,819
$1,195
+34% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$276,400
$153,600
+44% in Arlington, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$73,519
$44,140
+40% in Arlington, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440
$37,750
+27% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.6 yr
28.7 yr
+4.9 yr in Arlington, TX
Homeownership
54.8%
36.5%
+18.3 pp in Arlington, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.1%
35.0%
+1.9 pp in Hattiesburg, MS
Avg Commute
26.7 min
17.0 min
+9.7 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
494.2
221.5
+55% in Arlington, TX
Property Crime
2,434.5
3,475.7
+43% in Hattiesburg, MS

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.4°F
66.1°F
+0.7°F in Hattiesburg, MS
Annual Precipitation
39.6 in
59.2 in
+19.6 in in Hattiesburg, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.58/gal
$3.62/gal
+1% in Hattiesburg, MS

Area: Texas vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
N/A
—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
14.9
+7% in Arlington, TX
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$29.04
+9% in Arlington, TX

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / MS)
6.25%
7%
+0.8 pp in MS
Income Tax (top rate)
None
4.00%
+4.0 pp in MS

Arlington vs Hattiesburg — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Hattiesburg?
Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Hattiesburg?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $34,000 in Hattiesburg.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Hattiesburg?
Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Hattiesburg under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).