City Crime Score
Very low crime
Population
26,591
Median Income
$82,980
Home Value
$294,747
Median Age
40.0
Crime Statistics
Demographics
23.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher
Housing
Hernando, MS Crime Map
Explore crime rates, safest neighborhoods, and detailed crime statistics
Hernando, MS Safety Overview: What the Data Says in 2026
Hernando earns an overall crime grade of B for 2026 — a meaningful distinction for a Mississippi city of roughly 16,200 residents. That grade places Hernando comfortably above the state average and well ahead of larger metro neighbors. With a population density of just 247 people per square mile, a median household income of $68,377, and an unemployment rate of only 2.5%, Hernando carries the socioeconomic profile of a community where safety and stability reinforce each other.
Crime Incident Breakdown: What's Actually Happening
Understanding Hernando's crime picture means looking past headline numbers and into the composition of incidents. Property crime — including larceny-theft, vehicle break-ins, and occasional burglary — accounts for the dominant share of reported activity in the city. Violent crime incidents are comparatively rare and are concentrated in a narrow band of commercial corridors rather than in Hernando's established residential subdivisions.
The city's low poverty rate of 6.9% and a median rent of $1,064 suggest that economic stress-driven crime remains limited. When incidents do occur, they tend to cluster near high-traffic retail zones rather than in quiet neighborhoods like Hernando Hills or the streets surrounding historic downtown Hernando. Those residential pockets consistently reflect the better end of the city's B-grade safety profile.
Neighborhood-Level Safety Patterns
Not every part of Hernando looks identical on the crime map. Here is how the city's main zones break down:
- Historic Downtown Hernando: Low incident density; foot traffic is manageable and well-monitored. This area benefits from visible community presence and regular patrols.
- Hernando Hills and surrounding subdivisions: Among the quietest residential areas in the city. Property crime reports here are well below the citywide average, consistent with Hernando's overall B grade.
- Commercial corridors along U.S. Highway 51: Slightly elevated property crime relative to residential zones — a pattern common to retail-dense strips in suburban cities of this size. Larceny-from-vehicle incidents are the most frequently reported type in these areas.
- Areas near Hernando Park: Generally calm; the park and its surrounding streets see minimal incident reports, making the zone popular with families.
How Hernando Compares
A B overall crime grade is not a participation trophy — in Mississippi's context, it signals genuine relative safety. The city's 2.5% unemployment rate (one of the lowest in the region) and a median home value of $216,245 reflect a community with economic investment in maintaining that grade. Research consistently links low unemployment and moderate-to-high household income with reduced violent crime rates, and Hernando's numbers bear that out.
Using the Crime Map Effectively
The interactive crime map on this page lets you filter incidents by type, date range, and neighborhood. A few tips for getting the most out of it:
- Start with incident type filters: Toggle between property crime and violent crime layers to see where each category concentrates. You will quickly notice that violent incidents are sparse across most of Hernando's residential grid.
- Use the time-range slider: Comparing a 30-day window against a 12-month window reveals whether a spike is a trend or an outlier.
- Cross-reference with the heat map view: The heat map makes it visually clear that Hernando's warmer zones are tied to commercial activity, not residential neighborhoods.
- Check incident details: Each map pin includes the incident category, date, and block-level location — enough context to inform decisions without exposing individual addresses.
Practical Safety Tips for Hernando Residents and Visitors
- Secure vehicles in commercial areas: Given that larceny-from-vehicle is the most prevalent incident type along retail corridors, keeping valuables out of sight and locking doors remains the single highest-impact precaution.
- Engage neighborhood watch networks: Hernando Hills and the historic downtown area both have active resident networks. Joining one keeps you informed faster than any app.
- Report non-emergency incidents promptly: Timely reporting improves the accuracy of the crime map data and helps the Hernando Police Department allocate patrols efficiently.
- Use outdoor lighting: Properties on lower-density streets benefit from motion-activated lighting, which is a proven deterrent for opportunistic property crime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions: Hernando, MS Crime & Safety 2026
What is Hernando's overall crime grade?
Hernando receives an overall crime grade of B for 2026. That grade reflects a city where property crime exists — as it does in virtually every American community — but where violent crime is relatively uncommon and socioeconomic indicators like a 2.5% unemployment rate and a 6.9% poverty rate help keep the overall risk profile low. For a Mississippi city of 16,200 residents, a B grade is a genuinely strong result.
Is Hernando, MS safe to live in?
By most measurable standards, yes. Hernando's B crime grade, combined with a median household income of $68,377, a low poverty rate, and an unemployment rate of just 2.5%, paints the picture of a stable, relatively safe suburban community. Neighborhoods like Hernando Hills and the streets around historic downtown are among the most consistently low-incident areas on the city's crime map. No city is crime-free, but Hernando's overall profile is favorable compared to regional peers.
Which neighborhoods in Hernando are the safest?
The crime map data points to Hernando Hills, the historic downtown district, and residential areas near Hernando Park as the city's lowest-incident zones. These neighborhoods share common traits: active resident associations, regular police visibility, and lower population turnover. Property crime reports in these areas fall below the citywide average, which itself already earns a B grade.
Where does crime tend to concentrate in Hernando?
The highest relative concentration of incidents appears along commercial corridors, particularly near U.S. Highway 51. The dominant incident type in these zones is larceny-from-vehicle — an opportunistic property crime tied to retail parking lots rather than residential streets. Violent crime reports are sparse across the city as a whole and do not define any single neighborhood's character in Hernando.
How does Hernando's crime rate compare to other Mississippi cities?
Hernando's B overall crime grade positions it favorably within Mississippi. The city's low unemployment (2.5%), below-average poverty rate (6.9%), and median home value of $216,245 all correlate with reduced crime risk relative to higher-density, lower-income Mississippi communities. Residents comparing Hernando to larger cities in the region will generally find Hernando's safety profile to be stronger across both property and violent crime categories.
What types of crime are most common in Hernando?
Property crime — particularly larceny-theft and vehicle-related offenses — makes up the largest share of reported incidents in Hernando. These incidents are most frequently reported in commercial and retail areas rather than in residential subdivisions. Violent crime incidents are comparatively infrequent and do not represent a defining characteristic of daily life in the city. Vandalism and minor public disorder are occasionally reported but remain manageable relative to the city's size.
Is Hernando a good place to raise a family?
Hernando consistently ranks as a family-friendly community. The combination of a B crime grade, a median household income of $68,377, a median home value of $216,245, and a 2.5% unemployment rate reflects economic stability that supports safe, well-maintained neighborhoods. Areas like Hernando Hills and the neighborhoods surrounding Hernando Park are particularly popular with families, offering low incident rates and active community engagement. The city's proximity to Memphis also provides access to urban amenities without sacrificing the quieter pace of suburban life.
Surrounding Cities
Hernando Zip Codes
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