The 5 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Hattiesburg, MS for 2023

The Southeast city of Hattiesburg offers a warm climate year-round, general affordability and high access to health care, making it a desirable option for retirement living. While this region has historically seen prevalent crime, declining rates may provide peace of mind to older adults, and the local public transportation system makes the city easy to navigate, even without a private vehicle. Of the city’s nearly 50,000 residents, over 11% are aged 65 and over, promoting access to age-friendly social opportunities and community-based services.  

The Hattiesburg region also has numerous assisted living facilities where older adults obtain personal care and assistance, enjoy daily meals and participate in curated social and recreational activities. These communities are ideal for those who are unable to safely live alone but don’t need extensive medical care and monitoring. The Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey reports that on average, seniors in the Hattiesburg region pay $4,500 per month for services, which is relatively high compared to state and national figures. 

This guide provides more information on how local assisted living costs compare to rates in nearby cities and other types of senior care. It also highlights some benefits and drawbacks of living in Hattiesburg and an overview of resources for older residents.  

The Mississippi State Department of Health regulates assisted living facilities in Hattiesburg, as well as the rest of the state. This department outlines rules facilities must follow to ensure a high standard of care for residents. These include guidelines regarding the scope of care, staff training and move-in and move-out procedures. To ensure compliance, the department conducts regular scheduled and unannounced inspections.   

• Hattiesburg is a relatively inexpensive place to live, which may enable older adults to maintain their standard of living throughout their retirement years. The cost of living in Hattiesburg is fairly consistent with the state median and nearly 20% lower than that of the typical U.S. city. However, housing is a little more expensive here than in most Mississippi cities and may make assisted living a financially viable alternative to living alone. 
• The rate of property crime in Hattiesburg is higher than in most Mississippi cities, including rates in similarly-sized cities, such as Meridian and Pearl. Violent crime is considerably less common. In 2018, there were approximately 231 incidents per capita, which is markedly lower than respective state and national rates of 278 and 379. To keep residents safe, many assisted living facilities utilize updated security technology, such as surveillance cameras and alarm systems.  
• Hattiesburg’s weather is cooler than that of most Mississippi cities with year-round high temperatures ranging from 59 degrees in the winter to 91 degrees in the summer. The city sees about 60 inches of annual rainfall and virtually no snow, which may appeal to older adults who do their own driving or rely on mobility aids.  
• Older adults can supplement transportation services they receive in assisted living with Hub City Transit’s fixed and demand-response paratransit route services. Transportation is available on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., except on major holidays. Those aged 62 and over ride for a reduced fare.   
• Seniors in Hattiesburg don’t pay state income taxes on any form of retirement income, including Social Security benefits, pensions or income from savings and investments. Sales taxes are moderate, and property taxes are low, which may benefit those who continue to maintain ownership of private property after transitioning to assisted living.  
• Over a dozen hospitals are located in or near Hattiesburg, offering high access to health care for those managing chronic conditions. Two hospitals, including Forrest General Hospital and Merit Health Wesley, are located in the city proper.  

In Hattiesburg, assisted living facilities charge $4,500 per month on average for assisted living services. This is about $200 higher than the national median of $4,300. It’s also nearly $800 higher than the state median of $3,713, indicating it’s among the more expensive cities in Mississippi for this type of care.  

Seniors in Hattiesburg pay $4,500 monthly for assisted living. This is about $150 higher than the average rate in Jackson, where seniors pay $4,348 per month, and several hundred dollars higher than the average in the Gulfport area, where rates are consistent with the state median at $3,738. Across state lines, assisted living tends to be more affordable. Older adults in Mobile, Alabama, pay $3,318 for care, and in Hammond, Louisiana, monthly care costs come in at $2,900. 

At $4,500 monthly, assisted living is among the costlier senior care options in Hattiesburg. Seniors may obtain this level of care at home for considerably less, paying $3,718 for basic homemaker services and $3,766 for specialized home health aide services. Nursing homes are residential facilities, like assisted living, but they offer around-the-clock medical services and have considerably higher monthly fees of $7,376 for shared rooms and $7,604 for private accommodations. Adult day health care is generally the more affordable option, with seniors in Mississippi paying $1,354 for care.  

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Mississippi page.