Moving and storage go hand in hand. Whether traveling across town or the country, moving is an exciting and fresh start. While Storage Rentals of America is here to help you with all your storage needs, we also want to help you get familiar with the area. That's why we put together this resource guide for Gulfport, MS.

About Gulfport, MS

The capital of Mississippi is Jackson, which has more people than Gulfport. Nevertheless, Gulfport comes in second in terms of its population. The 2020 census counted 72,926 people within the city limits of Gulfport and 416,259 people in the greater metro area.

Gulfport combines with the city of Biloxi to make the Gulfport-Biloxi metropolitan area. These two cities operate together as the county set of Harrison County. Gulfport is on the Gulf Coast in the southern part of Mississippi. It was named after the shipping port on the Mississippi Sound.

When the first Europeans came to this area, they encountered the Choctaw native people who made this area their home for thousands of years. French colonists settled here until the area was purchased from France in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase.

Once the Americans took over, they wasted no time taking the land from the native people with the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This effort forced the Choctaw out and moved the tribal people to the Indian Territory, which is now the state of Oklahoma. Besides the Choctaw, four of the five “civilized” Indian tribes were also moved to make way for the white settlers who wanted the land to raise cotton. Gulfport was incorporated in 1898.

In contemporary times, the city is best known for its active shipping port and the presence of the U.S. Navy.

What to do in Gulfport, MS

Gulfport has these nice features and amenities:

• Features: The Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport brings plenty of visitors to the area. Families enjoy the Ocean Adventures Marine Park near the Big Lake.
• Events: Popular annual events include the Gulfport Merchants Chamber Fine Arts Festival, VETSports Beach Volleyball, Springfest, Geckofest, and Casinos Dances.
• Museums: The museums to visit include the Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum, the Lyn Meadows Discovery Center, and the Traintastic Railroad Museum.
• Destination: The Fort Maurepas City Park & Nature Preserve is a green space a few miles east of Gulfport. There is a playground, a splash pad, a picnic pavilion, and access to the public beach. Dogs on a leash are welcome.

Working in Gulfport, MS

The Gulfport local economy depends on healthcare, hospitality, retail, and construction. The unemployment rate is 7.5%, which is too high. The median household income is $41,250 per year, which is about $18,000 less than the national average of $69,021. The economy is growing slower than the average national rate. Gulfport's predicted job growth rate for the next ten years is 27.1%, compared to the national average of 33.5%.

The industries offering the most jobs are arts, entertainment, and recreation (11.4%), health care (9.9%), hospitality services (9.5%), construction (7.9%), education (7.6%), public administration (6.7%), and finance/insurance (3.4%).

Gulfport, MS Neighborhoods

Gulfport has many great neighborhoods to consider. The best locations are near the beach, on the Big Lake, and far away to the north if you want to avoid hurricanes and storm surges.

Here are the neighborhoods with the most expensive houses:

• Lorraine Rd / E Taylor Rd: The median real estate price is $466,153. This is more expensive than 94.3% of Mississippi. In this area, there is a mixture of homes and apartment buildings. Rental units are $1,649 monthly. The vacancy rate is 10.4%, which means it is easy to find a place to buy or rent in this highly desirable neighborhood.
• Mississippi City: This nice neighborhood is in the southern portion of this town. The median real estate price is $363,050. Apartments and houses are available to rent for around $1,365 per month. The vacancy rate is 9%, so finding a place to rent is easy.
• Courthouse Rd / 48th St: This is another nice area close to the beach. The median real estate price is $350,829. There are rental homes and apartments available here. The average rent is $1,642. The vacancy rate is 7.2%.
• 10th St / N Swan Rd: This area is on the northern side of the town. The median real estate price is $340,863. There is a mixture of homes and apartments in this neighborhood. The average rent is $1,787 per month. The vacancy rate is 7.4%.

Gulfport, MS School District

The public schools are managed by the Gulfport School District. The school district spends around $9,698 annually per student. The student-to-teacher ratio is about 16 to one, which is considered an average class size.

There are six private schools in the Gulfport area. The top three private schools are the Christian Collegiate Academy (PK to 12th), Dedeaux KinderCare (NS to PK), and Hope Academy (PK to 8th).

There are four colleges within a 50-mile radius. They offer two-year programs. There are two public community colleges and two private colleges, which are Blue Cliff College Gulfport and Virginia College Biloxi.

Moving to Gulfport, MS Resource Guide

Gulfport’s municipal government consists of an elected mayor and seven elected members serving on the City Council.

The Gulfport Department of Leisure Services manages more than 600 acres of parks and recreational areas. The city has 31 parks, 38 ball fields, five tennis courts, three gymnasiums, seven walking tracks, a Marina, fishing piers and municipal boat ramps, fitness centers, a senior center, and a swimming pool.

Gulfport, MS Housing

The median home price in Gulfport is $260,000, which stays about the same year-over-year. It is a buyer’s market with more homes listed for sale than the number of interested buyers.

The cost of living in Gulfport is 7% higher than other cities in Mississippi and 10% lower than the national average across America.