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Quality of Life in Lincoln County
A livable area that tracks near national norms for affordability, walkability, and neighborhood health.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life measures an area by evaluating factors like cost of living, nearby amenities, country club access, airport proximity, socioeconomic signals and neighborhood character. For large states, this is a general average — quality of life can vary dramatically between metro areas, suburbs, and rural communities within the same state.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life measures an area by evaluating factors like cost of living, nearby amenities, country club access, airport proximity, socioeconomic signals and neighborhood character. For large states, this is a general average — quality of life can vary dramatically between metro areas, suburbs, and rural communities within the same state.
Cost of Living
42% below national average
128%
The Real Cost of Living in Lincoln County for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $12k | $23k |
| Comfortable | $26k | $38k |
| Luxury | $87k+ | $135k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $110k+ | $170k+ |
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Lincoln County, Mississippi, offers a spectrum of quality-of-life options that range from the modest urban conveniences of its county seat, Brookhaven, to the quiet, deeply rural character of communities like Bogue Chitto and Ruth. The county’s overall cost of living index of 58 (well below the US average of 100) and a median home value of $131,800 make it one of the more affordable places in the state, attracting a mix of retirees, remote workers, and families seeking space and lower expenses. The character of daily life shifts noticeably depending on whether one lives within the city limits of Brookhaven, in a smaller crossroads community, or on an acreage lot in the unincorporated countryside.
Largest town(s) & population centers
Brookhaven is the undisputed hub of Lincoln County, home to roughly 12,000 residents and the county’s primary concentration of retail, healthcare, and employment. Daily life here centers around the historic downtown square, which hosts local restaurants, boutique shops, and the Lincoln County Courthouse. Major employers include King’s Daughters Medical Center and several manufacturing and distribution firms along the I-55 corridor. Housing options in Brookhaven range from older Craftsman bungalows near the railroad tracks to newer subdivisions on the south side, with the median home value of $131,800 reflecting a market that is accessible to first-time buyers. The average commute of about 29 minutes is typical for the region, with many residents driving to jobs in Jackson (roughly 45 minutes north) or to industrial sites along Highway 84. Brookhaven offers the most amenities in the county, including a Walmart Supercenter, a regional hospital, and multiple public schools, but lacks the nightlife and cultural density of a major metro area.
Smaller towns & rural pockets
Outside Brookhaven, the county is dotted with unincorporated communities and small towns that offer a markedly quieter pace. Bogue Chitto, located about 10 miles southeast of Brookhaven along the Bogue Chitto River, is a census-designated place of roughly 500 residents known for its river access, fishing, and hunting. Ruth, a tiny unincorporated community in the northern part of the county, consists mainly of scattered homes, a volunteer fire department, and farmland. Caseyville and Norfield are similar crossroads settlements where the primary activities are agricultural and outdoor recreation. These areas have no grocery stores or gas stations of their own; residents drive 15–25 minutes into Brookhaven for most errands. The trade-off is significant: land is cheaper, lots are larger (often 1–5 acres or more), and neighbors are few. For those seeking solitude, a rural property near Bogue Chitto or Ruth can be found for well under the county median home value, with some older mobile homes and fixer-uppers listed below $80,000.
Cost & lifestyle range
The cost of living in Lincoln County varies more by housing type and location than by any dramatic urban-to-rural price gap. In Brookhaven, median rent is $754, and a typical three-bedroom home in a subdivision like Northbrook or Southgate might sell for $140,000–$170,000. At the lower end of the spectrum, rural properties in Bogue Chitto or Ruth can be had for $60,000–$100,000, often with acreage but requiring well water and septic systems. At the higher end, newer construction on the outskirts of Brookhaven—such as homes along Old Highway 51 or near Lake Lincoln—can reach $250,000–$300,000, offering lake access and larger floor plans. Utilities and property taxes are low across the county, but rural residents pay more for propane, well maintenance, and longer drives to work. The lifestyle range is essentially a choice between walkable small-town convenience (Brookhaven’s downtown) and self-sufficient rural living (Bogue Chitto, Ruth, Caseyville), with no true urban option available.
This county works best for people who value low housing costs, outdoor recreation, and a slower rhythm over urban amenities and career density. Retirees on fixed incomes, remote workers with stable internet (available in Brookhaven and some rural areas via fixed wireless or satellite), and families who want a house and yard without a six-figure mortgage are the typical residents who thrive here. Those who need frequent access to specialized healthcare, diverse dining, or a vibrant social scene will likely find Lincoln County too limited, but for anyone seeking affordability and space in southwest Mississippi, the spectrum from Brookhaven to Bogue Chitto offers a clear, affordable choice.
Crime in Lincoln County
Generally safer than 61% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Lincoln County, Mississippi, reports a violent crime rate of 187 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1,065.3 per 100,000, placing it in a moderate safety tier relative to both state and national averages. The county seat of Brookhaven serves as the primary population and economic center, where most reported crime is concentrated, while outlying communities like Ruth, Bogue Chitto, and Norfield generally experience lower incident volumes. Travelers and new residents should note that safety conditions vary noticeably between the city limits of Brookhaven and the unincorporated rural areas.
Crime in context
Lincoln County’s violent crime rate of 187 per 100,000 sits roughly 30% below the national average of 268 per 100,000 and aligns closely with the Mississippi state average of approximately 200 per 100,000. Property crime, at 1,065.3 per 100,000, is about 15% higher than the national average of 924 per 100,000, driven largely by larceny and vehicle theft in Brookhaven. Compared to neighboring counties, Lincoln County’s violent crime rate is lower than Pike County (which includes McComb) but higher than Franklin County to the west. The 14th Circuit Court District, which covers Lincoln County, has seen a mixed record on sentencing severity; local observers note that progressive-leaning judicial philosophies in some Mississippi circuits have been associated with higher recidivism, though Lincoln County’s district attorney has maintained a generally tough-on-crime posture that helps keep violent offenses in check.
What residents experience
Residents of Brookhaven, the county’s only incorporated city, report property crime as the most common safety concern, with thefts from vehicles and unlocked outbuildings occurring regularly in neighborhoods near Interstate 55 exits. The Brookhaven Police Department responds to the bulk of these incidents, while the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office covers the rural areas. Violent crime is rare in the small communities of Ruth and Bogue Chitto, where most calls involve domestic disputes or minor assaults rather than stranger-on-stranger violence. Residents in Norfield and along Highway 84 east of Brookhaven describe a quiet, low-crime environment where neighbors watch out for one another. The presence of the Mississippi Department of Corrections’ Brookhaven facility does not appear to generate spillover crime in adjacent residential areas, contrary to concerns sometimes raised in other jurisdictions.
Neighborhood-level variation
Safety in Lincoln County is highly localized. The highest crime density occurs in central Brookhaven, particularly around the downtown commercial corridor and the Brookway Village shopping area, where property crime and occasional aggravated assaults are reported. Neighborhoods west of Highway 51 and south of Interstate 55 in Brookhaven see elevated theft rates, while the eastern residential areas near the Lincoln County Airport and the rural subdivisions around Lake Lincoln remain among the safest in the county. Unincorporated areas like Caseyville and Topisaw have negligible violent crime but experience occasional burglaries targeting hunting camps and farm equipment. For families and retirees, the safest housing choices are in the rural periphery or in Brookhaven’s established neighborhoods east of the railroad tracks, where community watch programs are active and police response times average under eight minutes.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-07-15T10:55:48.000Z
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