How many renters in Petal, MS pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Petal, MS, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

47.2% (±12.5 points) of renting households in Petal, MS spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

45.1% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 27.6% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 47.2% (±12.5 points)
Paying 35% or more: 45.1% (±12.3 points)
Median share of income: 27.6% (±14.9 points)

Rent as a share of income in Petal

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Petal	Forrest County	Mississippi	United States
Less than 15%	12.3% (±8.4 points)	12.2%	14.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	18.6% (±10.6 points)	14.3%	11.7%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	15.9% (±11.1 points)	9.3%	11.8%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	6.0% (±5.4 points)	12.5%	10.9%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	2.1% (±2.4 points)	9.3%	9.2%	9.2%
35% or more	45.1% (±12.3 points)	42.3%	42.1%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Petal against Forrest County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Petal	Forrest County	Mississippi	United States
Paying 30% or more	47.2% (±12.5 points)	51.6% (±5.4 points)	51.3% (±1.0 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	45.1% (±12.3 points)	42.3% (±4.5 points)	42.1% (±0.9 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	27.6% (±14.9 points)	30.9% (±2.1 points)	30.7% (±0.5 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$33,403 (±$26,815)	$32,458 (±$4,835)	$34,642 (±$649)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,047 (±$65)	$972 (±$32)	$954 (±$8)	$1,413

In Petal, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Forrest County (51.6%).

It is not measurably different from Mississippi (51.3%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In Forrest County, Petal ranks 3 of 4 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 168 of 325.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Petal

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Petal
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Petal	—	47.2% (±12.5 points)	—
Glendale	4.5 mi	22.0% (±42.2 points)	Not measurably different
Hattiesburg	5.6 mi	51.6% (±5.5 points)	Not measurably different
Arnold Line	8.4 mi	79.1% (±55.6 points)	Not measurably different
West Hattiesburg	8.8 mi	65.7% (±21.7 points)	Not measurably different
Rawls Springs	9.3 mi	50.4% (±35.1 points)	Not measurably different
Oak Grove	11 mi	39.1% (±28.9 points)	Not measurably different
New Augusta	16 mi	75.5% (±55.6 points)	Not measurably different
Purvis	17 mi	60.8% (±21.1 points)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Forrest County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Hattiesburg	51.6% (±5.5 points)
2	Rawls Springs	50.4% (±35.1 points)
3	Petal	47.2% (±12.5 points)
4	Glendale	22.0% (±42.2 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Petal

Are renters in Petal rent-burdened?

47.2% of renting households in Petal pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Petal spend on rent?

The median renting household in Petal, MS spends 27.6% (±14.9 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Petal city, Mississippi (place:56800, in state:28).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.