Moving to the Jackson metro

Most of the people we help are moving here from somewhere else. This is the stuff we get asked about all the time: where to live, what to do in your first couple of months, who to call for utilities, and how taxes work in Mississippi.

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

Watch: 19 Things You MUST KNOW before Moving to JACKSON MISSISSIPPI

Your first few months

  1. Register your car (30 days): New residents have 30 days to register a vehicle at the county Tax Collector's office. Late registration adds a $250 penalty, and you'll need a Mississippi driver's license.
  2. Get your license (60 days): Get a Mississippi driver's license within 60 days of moving. With a valid out-of-state license you'll usually just need a vision screening.
  3. Register to vote: At the Circuit Clerk's office, a city clerk's office, or a Driver Service Bureau office. Check your status on the Secretary of State's Y'all Vote site.
  4. File homestead: If you own and live in your home on January 1, apply for homestead exemption at the county Tax Assessor between January 1 and April 1.

Picking an area

The metro splits into three counties that feel pretty different. Madison County is north, with Madison, Ridgeland, Gluckstadt and Canton. Rankin County is east across the Pearl River, with Brandon, Flowood, Pearl and the Ross Barnett Reservoir. Hinds County has Jackson itself plus Clinton, Byram and Raymond.

Commute, schools, budget and how much land you want usually decide it. Our area guides cover each one.

Explore the area

Utilities

Entergy Mississippi provides electricity across Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties. Parts of Rankin County are served by electric co-ops instead, including Central Electric Power Association and Southern Pine Electric, so check which one serves the address. For natural gas, Atmos Energy is the largest gas utility in Mississippi, but check which company serves the address.

Water and sewer are usually handled by your city. In Jackson, the water and sewer systems have been run by JXN Water under a federal court-appointed interim third-party manager since November 2022. A transition plan released in October 2026 expects that oversight to end no later than July 1, 2028. If you're buying in Jackson, ask about water service and recent bills for the specific home.

State taxes

Mississippi doesn't tax the first $10,000 of income. Above that, the rate is 4% for 2026 and 3.75% for 2027, and current law steps it down to 3% by 2030, with further cuts possible after that if revenue targets are met.

The state sales tax on groceries dropped from 7% to 5% on July 1, 2025.

For property taxes, an owner-occupied home is assessed at 10% of its value, and that's multiplied by the local millage rate set by the county, city and school district. Homestead exemption lowers the bill on your primary home.

Getting around

Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) sits on the east side of the metro near Flowood and Pearl. I-55 runs north and south through Jackson, Ridgeland, Madison and Canton, I-20 runs east and west through Clinton, Jackson, Pearl and Brandon, and I-220 loops around north Jackson. The Natchez Trace Parkway runs through Ridgeland and along Madison's east side.

Big employers

The University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson is the state's only academic medical center and has more than 10,000 employees. State government is based downtown. Nissan's plant in Canton has been building vehicles since 2003.

Weather

Expect long, hot summers and short winters. Based on 1991 to 2020 normals at the airport, July averages a high of about 92 degrees and January about 57, with around 57 inches of rain a year and about an inch of snow.

The fine print

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Deadlines and rates can change, so check with the agency for anything specific.

Common questions

How long do I have to get a Mississippi driver's license after moving?

60 days. If your out-of-state license is valid, you'll usually only need a vision screening. Expired licenses may require the exam.

How long do I have to register my car in Mississippi?

30 days after moving, at your county Tax Collector's office. Late registration adds a $250 penalty.

What is Mississippi's income tax rate?

The first $10,000 of taxable income isn't taxed. The rate above that is 4% for 2026 and 3.75% for 2027, stepping down to 3% by 2030 under current law.

Who runs Jackson's water system?

JXN Water, under a federal court-appointed interim third-party manager, has run Jackson's drinking water and sewer systems since November 2022. Notices, including boil water notices, are posted at jxnwater.com.

Sources

Planning a move?

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.