Question 1

Is Hattiesburg, MS or Olive Branch, MS cheaper to buy in?

Accepted Answer

Hattiesburg, MS is cheaper. The median home price in Hattiesburg, MS is approximately $115,300 and in Olive Branch, MS it is approximately $261,900 — a difference of $146,600.

Question 2

Is Hattiesburg, MS or Olive Branch, MS safer?

Accepted Answer

Olive Branch, MS scores higher on safety. Hattiesburg, MS has violent crime rated Moderate and property crime rated Moderate. Olive Branch, MS has violent crime rated Low and property crime rated Moderate.

Question 3

Is Hattiesburg, MS or Olive Branch, MS more walkable?

Accepted Answer

Hattiesburg, MS is more walkable. Hattiesburg, MS has a Walk Score of 6/100 and Olive Branch, MS has a Walk Score of N/A/100.

Question 4

Which has better schools, Hattiesburg, MS or Olive Branch, MS?

Accepted Answer

Olive Branch, MS has higher-rated schools. Hattiesburg, MS has a school rating of N/A and Olive Branch, MS has a rating of 7.5/10.

Question 5

Should I live in Hattiesburg, MS or Olive Branch, MS?

Accepted Answer

Both neighborhoods have distinct trade-offs — review the data above to find your best fit.

Category	Hattiesburg, MS	Olive Branch, MS
Housing
Verdict	Think twice	Think twice
Median Price	$115K ✓ Lower price	$262K
Median Rent	$889 ✓ Lower rent	$1K
Median Income	$37K	$96K ✓ Higher income
Price Volatility	High	Low ✓ More stable
Getting Around
Walk Score	6/100 ✓ More walkable	Car-dependent
Transit Score	Minimal transit	Minimal transit ✓ Better transit
Bike Score	N/A	N/A ✓ More bikeable
Commute	N/A	30 min
Safety & Environment
Safety Grade	D+	B ✓ Safer
Violent Crime	Moderate	Low ✓ Lower risk
Property Crime	Moderate	Moderate
Flood Risk	Low	Low
Air Quality	Moderate	Good ✓ Cleaner air
Community
Schools	N/A	7.5/10 ✓ Better schools
Best for	First‑time homebuyers with a tight budgetIndividuals willing to drive for most errandsLocal job seekers near the university or regional employers	Families seeking good schoolsRetirees looking for a quiet communityRemote workers who don’t need local amenities

Hattiesburg, MS vs Olive Branch, MS

Bottom line