LivabilityCalc
Find Your City
City Housing Verdict

Olive Branch, MS

Manageable

The cost of living in Olive Branch, MS is 5% below the national average (Cost Index: 95). Homes here are typically valued around $269,900, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $98,421 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.

Olive Branch looks comparatively manageable for household relocation, with 20% rent burden, 2.7x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 89. Use the assumptions below to test whether your own budget still stays in the safe range.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Safe

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Olive Branch.

Monthly Housing
$1,609/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
20%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$6,093/mo
After housing and debt · $2,031/person
Rent vs Buy
Buying can be tested
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 26%
Uses a URL fragment, so it does not create a separate indexed page.
Cost Index
95
Average
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$269,900
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,609/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$98,421
National: $78,538
Population
46,538
Purchasing Power
132
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
89 / 100
11% below average
Rent Index
119 / 100
19% above average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
74 / 100
26% lower utility bills
Healthcare & Services
95 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
95
Average

Olive Branch Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $269,900 and Mississippi's property tax rate of 0.81%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$98,421
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
20%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
2.7x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Olive Branch looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Olive Branch, MS

Est. Annual Property Tax
$2,186
Monthly Impact
$182
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.81%
National avg: ~1.00%

Mississippi Place Tax Context

Tax TypeMississippiNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.81%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate5%~5.0%
State Sales Tax7.07%~5.0%

Compare Olive Branch to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Olive Branch, MS
95
119
Loading cities...
---
---

Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Olive Branch, MS: 89
Rent Prices
119

FAQ: Living in Olive Branch

What is the cost of living like in Olive Branch, MS?+

Living costs in Olive Branch land close to the national average, with a Cost Index of 95 (where 100 = the US baseline). Housing is the largest variable: the median home value here is $269,900, and typical monthly rents run around $1,609. Groceries and utilities are slightly below what you would find in most US cities.

How does Olive Branch fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,609, while local median household income is $98,421. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 20% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Olive Branch, MS?+

Mississippi has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 5%. The effective property tax rate is 0.81%. On a home worth $269,900, that translates to roughly $2,186 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 7.07% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Olive Branch, MS?+

The typical monthly rent in Olive Branch is around $1,609. That's about 19% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $269,900, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Olive Branch, MS?+

The median home in Olive Branch is valued at $269,900. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,365/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 83% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Olive Branch?+

Grocery prices in Olive Branch are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 74). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Olive Branch, MS like to live in?+

Olive Branch is a smaller city with a population of about 46,538. The median age of residents is 37.6, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 5.03%, well below the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Mississippi

If Olive Branch feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Mississippi

Use these city pages when you want to compare Olive Branch against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly