The city of Southaven, MS is located along the Tennessee-Mississippi border about 13 miles south of downtown Memphis. It is bordered by Hernando, Horn Lake, Memphis, Olive Branch, Bridgetown, Germantown, Anthonyville, Byhalia, Coldwater, Collierville, Edmondson, Horseshoe Lake, and Walls.
Southaven started as a village and was later incorporated as a city on April 15, 1980. It’s now one of the fastest-growing areas in the state and has become the third-largest city in Mississippi by population.
Due to its location, Southaven is often called by a nickname as the “Top of Mississippi”.
Southaven is commonly known for being the hometown of notable people like famous novelist John Grisham as well as singer-songwriter Cory Branan.
Is Southaven a good place to live? You’ll see all the benefits of moving to Southaven as you learn about the local demographics, things to do, and other helpful information about the area.
1. People Living in Southaven, MS – Population & Demographics
How many people live in Southaven? There’s been consistently high growth in the area with nearly 50,000 new residents relocating to Southaven since the 1970s. The Southaven population is 54,152 people with a median age of 36 years old.
Southaven demographics are made up of approximately 62% Caucasian, 28% Black or African American, 5% Hispanic or Latino, and 2% Asian. The gender ratio in the area is about 53% female and 47% male. There is a median household income in Southaven of $61,026 per year.
Is Southaven a safe place to live? The overall crime rate in Southaven is 35% higher than the national average although the violent crime rate is 56% lower. In general, Southaven is a safe place to live as residents are served and protected by the men and women of the Southaven Police Department.
2. Cost of Living in Southaven, MS
The average cost of living in Southaven is 13% lower than the national average but about 6% higher than the Mississippi state average. Some expenses like healthcare and utilities are lower, while others like groceries, transportation, and the Southaven real estate market are higher than average.
How much does it cost to live in Southaven, MS? Statistics on Numbeo show some of the amounts you can expect to pay for specific items around town:
- Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant $15.00
- McDonald’s Burger Meal $9.00
- Milk (regular 1 gallon) $2.67
- Eggs (1 Dozen) $1.07
- Bread (1 loaf) $1.64
- Chicken Fillets (1 lb) $1.99
- Domestic Beer (1 pint) $5.00
- Average Cost of Gasoline (per gallon) $2.22
- Average Cost of Utilities (per month) $100.00
The homeownership rate in Southaven is 67.1%. There are plenty of nice Southaven, MS homes for sale that are fitting for any and all lifestyles. The average price of a home in Southaven is $190,000, equaling a median sale price of $119 per square foot.
Southaven property tax rate is 0.770% so a $190,000 home would have about $1,463 in property taxes per year.
About 33% of residents living in Southaven rent, giving people looking for a lease a handful of options nearby. The average price of rent in Southaven is $1,124 per month, which is a 12% increase since last year.
3. Southaven Neighborhoods
What are the best places to live in Southaven? Anyone relocating to the area can consider any of the best neighborhoods in Southaven such as:
- Highland Grove
- Dickens Place
- Castle Ridge
- Lakes of Nicholas
The city of Southaven operates more than 20 local parks, which are open to the public and are managed by the Southaven Parks and Recreation Department.
There are plenty of convenient shopping destinations in Southaven including Aldi, Walmart, Kroger, Tanger Outlets Southaven, The Home Depot, and Southaven Towne Center.
It’s easy to travel from Southaven to Memphis, a trip covering about 13 miles and 15 minutes each way.
4. Southaven, MS Weather & Climate
There is a humid subtropical climate in Southaven, which means hot, muggy summers and cold, wet winters. Outdoor activities can be found all over town that people can visit at any time of the year.
The average temperature in Southaven during summer is between the mid-70s and the mid-90s. Winters cool down to the low 30s and the low 50s. Southaven weather also brings about 55 inches of rain per year along with 3 inches of annual snowfall.
5. Things to Do in Southaven
There is a wide variety of fun Southaven attractions, local points of interest, places to visit, and other activities for residents to enjoy.
Landers Center
Some of the top things to do in Southaven can be found at Landers Center, a local event venue. This popular destination features numerous events throughout the year including concerts, comedians, and seasonal games for the Memphis Hustle NBA G League team.
Landers Center, 4560 Venture Dr, Southaven, MS 38671 (662) 280-9120
Strike Zone Bowling Lanes
A can’t miss thing to do in Southaven is Strike Zone Bowling Lanes, the top bowling alley in the area. It offers visitors access to multiple bowling lanes, a full video game arcade, and fun activities for birthday parties or business events.
Strike Zone Bowling Lanes Llc, 3330 Pine Tar Alley, Southaven, MS 38672 (662) 893-0530
Additional Southaven Attractions
- Chuck E. Cheese, 7178 Desoto Cove, Horn Lake, MS 38637
- Snowden Grove Park, 6450 Getwell Rd, Southaven, MS 38672
- Central Park, 7505 Stonegate Blvd, Southaven, MS 38671
6. Southaven Restaurants
Top-rated restaurants in Southaven offer a variety of options whether you want Italian, Mexican, Chinese, or any other type of food.
Huey’s Southaven
Ranked among the best Southaven restaurants, Huey’s is a popular bar and grill for American cuisine. Their menu features tasty entrees like burgers, shrimp po-boys, sandwiches, steak sticks, tamales, soups, salads, and more.
Huey’s Southaven, 7090 Malco Blvd, Southaven, MS 38671 (662) 349-7097
Kublai Khan
One of Southaven’s top places to eat is Kublai Khan, a modern restaurant for Pan-Asian dishes. They offer a great selection of sushi as well as specialty rolls and yummy stir-fry bowls.
Kublai Khan, 7204 Airways Blvd #5802, Southaven, MS 38671 (662) 470-5638
7. Jobs in Southaven
For those who are searching for Southaven jobs, you’ll be pleased to know that there are a handful of great companies offering career opportunities. A few of the best places to work in Southaven are:
- M & H Contractors
- Specialty Surgery Center
- County Ford of Southaven
- NCS Trojans
The average salary in Southaven is $50,000 per year. The state income tax rate is 5.0%. Southaven’s unemployment rate is currently about 4.1%.
8. Southaven Schools
There are around 15,705 kids between the ages of 0 and 18 years old living in Southaven, adding up to about 29% of the population. Parents love living in the area and feel Southaven is an excellent place for families to live.
Local schools in Southaven are part of the DeSoto County School District. The top Southaven schools in the community include:
- Desoto Central Elementary School
- Southaven Intermediate School
- Desoto Central Middle School
- Southaven Middle School
- Desoto Central High School (ranked 8th among top high schools in Mississippi)
- Southaven High School
There aren’t any colleges or universities in Southaven but students can attend either the University of Memphis or LeMoyne-Owen College nearby.
People residing in Southaven also have access to the free M.R. Davis Southaven Public Library if they’d ever like to rent books or movies.
9. Southaven Statistics & Information
Southaven covers a geographic area of 41.3 square miles along the northern border of DeSoto County. The city’s local zip codes are 38637, 38651, 38654, 38671, 38672, and 38680. The Southaven area code is 662.
The time zone in Southaven is Central Standard Time (CST) and Central Daylight Time (CDT) during daylight savings time.
There is an elevation of about 308 feet above sea level in Southaven.
Tips for Living in Southaven
- People relocating to Southaven have an easy commute to jobs in Memphis and other areas close by.
- Make sure you can afford the Southaven cost of living, which is a bit higher than the state average.
- While the Southaven crime rate is a bit higher than the national average, you can still find plenty of safe neighborhoods in the city.
Moving to Southaven, MS
You’ll always find great reasons to move to Southaven thanks to the many benefits of living there. If you need a team of trusted Southaven movers to handle your transition, count on the crews here at Big League Movers! Reach out to us today by calling (901) 446-3560 or fill out the Request a Quote form on this page for a free moving estimate!