Affordable Storage in Meridian

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 Meridian, Mississippi.

About Meridian, MS

Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County. The 2020 census counted 35,052 people living there. It is in central Mississippi at the junction where Interstate Highway 20 and 59 connect. It is now the 8th largest city in the state.

In 1860, the town was created where the Mobile and Ohio Railroad and the Southern Railway of Mississippi meet. It grew as a trading post until the American Civil War, when the town was completely burned down. After the Civil War ended, the town entered a period of renovation and major expansion, becoming the largest city in the state by 1930.

It was the leading center for manufacturing in the South, with more than 40 trains arriving and departing every day. Union Station, built in 1906, still stands and nowadays connects Amtrak trains to Greyhound bus services.

The local economy diversified when the railroads declined. Now, the city has two military bases: the Naval Air Station Meridian and Key Field. Rush Foundation Hospital is the largest employer in the area, employing over 2,600 workers.

What to do in Meridian, MS

Meridian offers a nice lifestyle with plenty of things to see and do:

• Features: Playing soccer or watching games at the Meridian Jaycee Soccer Complex is fun.
• Events: Popular annual events include the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, Mardi Gras, 59Twenty Music Festival, Three Foot Art Festival, Jimmie Rodgers Festivals, Juneteenth Heritage Festival, Hwy 80 Songwriters Festival, Meridian Main Street Candy Crawl, the Soule Live Steam Festival & Railfest, and Santa’s workshop.
• Museums: There are many museums in this town, including the Jimmie Rodgers Museum (‘The Father of Country Music”), the Living Proof Museum, and the Mississippi Children’s Museum.
• Destination: A favored local tour is to visit the old cemetery and pay your respects at the Grave of the Gypsy Queen, which is a traditional part of the local folklore.

Working in Meridian, MS

The Meridian economy depends on healthcare, hospitality, retail, and manufacturing. The unemployment rate is 6.7%, which is higher than other cities in America. The median household income is $31,198 per year, which is less than half of the national average of $69,021. The economy is growing much slower than the national growth rate. Meridian's predicted job growth rate for the next ten years is 21%, compared to the national average of 33.5%.

The industries offering the most jobs are health care (16.4%), education (9.6%), hospitality services (7.2%), public administration (5.4%), construction (4.7%), department and general stores (3.2%) and nonprofit/religious organizations (3.2%).

Meridian, MS Neighborhoods

Meridian has many great neighborhoods to consider. The best locations are in the city center and on the northern and northwestern sides of town.

Here are the neighborhoods with the finest houses:

• Country Club Dr / Grandview Ave: This well-established neighborhood is in the city center. Most of the homes were built between 1970 and 1999. Some were built between 1940 and 1969. The median real estate price is $328,256. This is more expensive than 76.6% of Mississippi. Most homes are owner-occupied. The houses are large, with at least three and up to six bedrooms. Rental homes and apartments are $1,699 monthly. The vacancy rate is 10.91%, which means finding a place to buy or rent is easy.
• Daleville: This nice neighborhood is on the northern side of this town. The median real estate price is $261,665. Apartments and houses are available to rent for around $1,621 per month. The vacancy rate is 16.3%, so finding a place to rent in this area is easy.
• Meridian Station / Lockhart: This is another nice area in the northern part of town. The median real estate price is $247,630. Rental homes in this neighborhood rent for $2,791 per month, which is very expensive. The vacancy rate is 30.2%, which is very high also.
• Nellieburg: This area is on the northwestern side of the town. The median real estate price is $210,443. There is a mixture of homes and apartment buildings in this neighborhood. The average rent is $1,193 per month. The vacancy rate is 11.3%, making it easy to find a place to rent or buy.

Meridian, MS School District

Meridian Public School District is the administrator of the public schools. The school district spends around $22,232 annually per student. The student-to-teacher ratio is about 17 to one, which is considered an average class size.

There are seven private schools in the Meridian area. The top three private schools are the Lamar School (PK to 12th), Russell Christian Academy (PK to 12th), and Calvary Road Christian School (PK to 6th).

There are four colleges and universities within a 50-mile radius. Three are two-year community colleges, and the University of West Alabama is a four-year public school in the nearby state of Alabama, 34 miles from Meridian.

Moving to Meridian, MS Resource Guide

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

The Meridian Parks & Recreation Department manages the Lakeview Golf Course, the Dentzel Carousel, the neighborhood parks, and the recreational centers. There are sports facilities and athletics programs for all ages.

Meridian, MS Housing

The median home price in Meridian is $179,700, which is trending up 33.1% 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 Meridian is very low. It is 2% lower than other cities in Mississippi and 19% lower than the national average for the United States.