Living in Rankin County, Mississippi

Rankin County sits on the east side of the Pearl River, across from Jackson. It takes in Brandon, Flowood, Pearl, Richland, Florence and Pelahatchie, plus the Ross Barnett Reservoir, so you can pick anything from a busy suburb to a small town or open country. It's also where we do a lot of our work.

By Jared Laster, Living in Mississippi. Updated 2026-10-24.

Watch: Rankin County Mississippi Explained | Where to live in Jackson Mississippi

Rankin County at a glance

Based on information from MLS United, LLC. for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Rankin County at a glance

About 162,000 people live in Rankin County as of mid-2025, spread over 775 square miles. Brandon is the county seat. I-20 runs east and west through the county and meets I-55 on the west side near Pearl and Richland, and Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport sits between Flowood and Pearl.

The newest piece of the road map is the West Rankin Parkway, which opened in November 2025 and gives drivers another route between Pearl and Flowood besides Lakeland Drive and I-20.

The cities and how they differ

Pearl (about 28,900 people) is the largest city. It's right across the river from Jackson, has its own school district, and is home to Trustmark Park and the Outlets of Mississippi. Brandon (about 26,100) is the county seat, with a historic downtown, the Brandon Amphitheater and a lot of Reservoir neighborhoods with Brandon addresses.

Flowood (about 11,000) is the shopping and medical hub along Lakeland Drive, a couple of miles from the airport. Richland (about 7,600) sits on US 49 next to Pearl and has a lot of distribution businesses. Florence (about 4,800) is farther south on US 49 with its own school zone. Pelahatchie (about 1,300) is a small town out east on I-20, known for its Muscadine Jubilee.

Schools

Most of the county is served by the Rankin County School District, which earned an A for 2025-26. It has 28 schools, including eight high schools: Brandon, Florence, McLaurin, Northwest Rankin, Pelahatchie, Pisgah, Puckett and Richland.

Pearl has its own district, the Pearl Public School District, which earned a B for 2025-26. Zoning follows the address, and plenty of homes have a mailing address in one town and a school zone in another, so we check every address.

The Reservoir and luxury pockets

The Ross Barnett Reservoir covers about 33,000 acres on the county's northwest side. The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District runs it, with 16 parks, 22 boat launches and 23 miles of trails, and it has developed 66 subdivisions with more than 5,800 homes around the water.

Most of Rankin County's high end is on and near the water. Gated Palisades sits right on the Reservoir, and Arbor Landing has its own marina. Our Brandon guide covers the Reservoir communities in more detail.

Neighborhoods in and around Rankin County

Schools

Rankin County School District earned an A for 2025-26 and Pearl Public School District earned a B. Many Reservoir-area homes with Brandon addresses are zoned to Northwest Rankin schools, so check zoning by address.

Getting around

Check it yourself

Niche grades as of October 24, 2026. They change, so click through for the latest. We share these so you can see the data for yourself; we don't rate neighborhoods.

Homes we're featuring in Rankin County

Questions about living in Rankin County

What cities are in Rankin County, Mississippi?

The main ones are Pearl, Brandon, Flowood, Richland, Florence and Pelahatchie. Brandon is the county seat, and Pearl has the most people.

What school districts are in Rankin County?

Most of the county is in the Rankin County School District, rated A for 2025-26. The City of Pearl has its own district, the Pearl Public School District, rated B.

Where are the waterfront and luxury homes in Rankin County?

Mostly around the Ross Barnett Reservoir, in communities like gated Palisades and Arbor Landing. Many of them have Brandon addresses but sit outside the city limits.

What do homes cost in Rankin County?

The Census median home value is $237,400 (2020-2024). Based on MLS data, the median sold price in Rankin County was $290,000 in September 2026 (147 sales). Pearl and Richland both come in below the county figures.

Thinking about Rankin County?

Send us a message.

Call or text (601) 292-6070 · Office (228) 471-5211 · Jared Laster and Charles Lacey, licensed Mississippi real estate agents with Real Broker, LLC.