Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Pass Christian, Mississippi
Bordered by Water on Three Sides, the Unhurried Little Town of Pass Christian Has a Languid Pace and an Often Uncrowded Powdery White Sand Beach
Bordered on three sides by water, the little Gulf of Mexico town of Pass Christian, pronounced "Pass Chris-tee-an" and called "Pass" by locals, was chartered in 1848. It was the site of the South's first yacht club and has some of the region's finest oyster reefs. With warm breezes coming off the Gulf, time here seems to flatten out, as if the hours and days drift into one another without boundaries.
The area also has a history of hurricanes. Camille in 1969 and Katrina in 2005 both devastated much of Pass Christian. Hurricane Ida in 2021 also brought flooding and structure damage. This quaint, friendly community has rebuilt each time. The town's War Memorial Park is the centerpiece for a farmers' market, as well as a variety of art and jazz festivals. Mardi Gras draws regional visitors, and the local library sponsors a cultural series. The historical society and art association offer luncheons and exhibits. Pass Christian's pretty harbor is home to shrimp and oyster boats but also has piers for pleasure craft and fishing. The annual blessing of the shrimp fleet happens every April.
Residents enjoy six parks and support a running club and a 3rd Thursday community bike ride. The Pass Christian Isles Golf Club is the second oldest course along the Mississippi coast. Some of the best schools in the state boast a Pass Christian address.
Inland neighborhoods have a rural feeling with historic homes and tall oak trees, while most waterside residences - many large and beautiful - sit atop stilts. Wide Beach Boulevard sits between town and the long, often uncrowded powdery white sand beach.
Pass Christian has nearly 6,500 people, with 44% of residents age 45 or better, and it has been growing since Hurricane Katrina, except for some time around the pandemic. Its population is now nearly double what is was in 2005. About 30% of locals hold a four-year college degree.
The cost of living runs approximately 2% below the national average, and the median home price is around $410,000. Real estate prices have stayed steady from a year ago.
Summers are warm, with temperatures in the 80s and 90s, while winters are mild, in the 40s and 50s. The area receives about 57 inches of rain annually. Hurricanes remain a risk.
Although there is no local hospital, Memorial Hospital is in Gulfport, just 12 miles away. There is no public transit, either, but there is a public library. The crime rate meets the national average, but the poverty rate is slightly above the national average. Politics lean to the right.
Coastal Mississippi stretches along the Gulf of Mexico with a blend of wide sandy beaches, barrier islands, and small harbors that give it a lyrical seaside charm.
Towns like Ocean Springs, Gulfport, and Bay St. Louis offer a mix of historic downtowns, colorful art scenes, and classic Southern seafood shacks serving fresh shrimp and oysters.
The area has long been shaped by its connection to the water—commercial fishing, shipbuilding, and boating are part of everyday life—yet it also carries a slower, more easygoing pace than larger Gulf Coast destinations.
The state is considered tax-friendly for retirement.
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