Finding the Best Places to Retire Since 2006!
Pass Christian, Mississippi
Bordered by Water on Three Sides, the Friendly, Quaint Little Town of Pass Christian Has an Often Uncrowded Powdery White Sand Beach
Bordered on three sides by water, the Gulf of Mexico town of Pass Christian is called "Pass" by locals and 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.
Hurricane Camille in 1969, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Ida in 2021 all brought flooding and structure damage to Pass Christian, but 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.
Neighborhoods have a country ambiance, and many homes sit atop stilts. Wide Beach Boulevard sits between town and the long, often uncrowded powdery white sand beach.
Population: 6,800 (city proper)
Age 45 or Better: 44%
Cost of Living: 5% below the national average
Median Home Price: $375,000
Climate: Summer temperatures are in the 80s and 90s, and winter temperatures are in the 40s and 50s. On average, the area receives 57 inches of rain each year.
At Least One Hospital Accepts Medicare Patients? No, but Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, about 12 miles away, accepts Medicare patients.
At Least One Accredited by Joint Commission? No, but Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, about 12 miles away, is accredited.
Public Transit: No
Crime Rate: Meets the national average
Public Library: Yes
Political Leanings: Conservative
College Educated: 30%
Is Mississippi Considered Tax Friendly for Retirement? Yes
Cons: A hurricane could easily cause damage again. The poverty rate is slightly above the national average.
Notes: Pass Christian saw a drop off in population after Katrina, but the population has been steadily returning since 2010 and is 20% higher than it was in 2005. The town has some of the best schools in the state and is only a few minutes from Gulfport's big city amenities. Home prices have increased 2% since last year.
Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes, although the hurricane threat is real.
Mississippi:
The Magnolia State entered the Union on December 10, 1817. Prosperous cotton plantations dominated the landscape during the first half of the 19th century. After the American Civil War, the state struggled to find a new economy. Mississippi became a battleground for the Civil Rights Movement.
The state's topography is primarily hilly. The flat, alluvial Mississippi Delta stretches between two rivers and contains 2.7 million acres of wetlands. Blues music has its origins there. Residents of the state experience long, hot summers and short, mild winters.
Mississippi continues to produce cotton, but over cultivation has led to diversification. Rice, soybeans, and aquaculture have helped boost the state's fragile economy. Petroleum and natural gas mining are recent developments and have helped the state move toward the manufacture of chemicals and plastics.
Musicians born in Mississippi include Jimmy Buffet, Elvis Presley, and Leontyne Price. Doctors at the University of Mississippi Medical Center performed the world's first human lung transplant in 1963 and the first heart transplant in 1964.
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