Pascagoula, MS Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Pascagoula, MS

What is Pascagoula's overall crime grade and what does it mean?

Pascagoula currently holds an overall crime grade of D+ for 2026. This grade places the city in the lower tier of safety rankings, meaning residents face a notably higher risk of encountering both property and violent crime compared to national averages. With a population of 21,732 spread across a density of 545 residents per square mile, crime is not uniformly distributed — certain neighborhoods carry more risk than others. A D+ grade signals that while the city is not in the most severe category, meaningful caution and awareness are warranted, particularly in higher-incident areas.

How does Pascagoula's poverty and unemployment rate affect its crime picture?

Socioeconomic conditions are strongly correlated with crime trends, and Pascagoula's numbers are notable. The city's poverty rate stands at 24.7% — nearly one in four residents — and the unemployment rate is 12.3%, more than double the typical national benchmark. With a median household income of just $41,167 and a median home value of $113,471, financial stress is widespread. Research consistently shows that communities with elevated poverty and unemployment experience higher rates of property crime in particular. In Pascagoula, these factors contribute directly to the D+ crime grade and help explain why theft, burglary, and drug-related offenses tend to cluster in economically distressed pockets of the city.

What are the safest and most at-risk neighborhoods in Pascagoula?

While crime is present across Pascagoula, risk is not evenly spread. Residential areas closer to the Gulf Coast waterfront and communities adjacent to the Jackson County Courthouse corridor tend to report lower incident densities. Neighborhoods farther inland and those closer to industrial corridors historically see higher concentrations of property crime and occasional violent incidents. Areas near the downtown commercial district warrant extra awareness, particularly after dark. If you are evaluating where to rent or buy — with a median rent of $760 and median home value of $113,471 — cross-referencing the crime map with specific block-level data can reveal meaningful differences even within a few streets of each other.

What types of crime are most common in Pascagoula?

Property crimes — including theft, motor vehicle theft, and residential burglary — represent the most frequently reported incident category in Pascagoula, consistent with the pattern seen in similarly sized Mississippi cities with elevated poverty rates. Violent crimes such as aggravated assault and robbery occur at a lower frequency but are not negligible given the city's D+ grade. Drug-related offenses also appear regularly in incident reports, often intersecting with both property and violent crime activity. Understanding this breakdown matters: if you are primarily concerned about vehicle or home security, property crime prevention strategies are your highest-priority action. If you are assessing personal safety while walking or commuting, focusing on violent crime hotspots shown in the crime map is more relevant.

Is Pascagoula a good place to live given its crime grade?

Pascagoula offers genuine appeal — a coastal Gulf location, a tight-knit maritime community, and housing affordability that is hard to match, with a median home value of $113,471 and median rent of $760. However, the D+ overall crime grade is a real consideration. The city's 24.7% poverty rate and 12.3% unemployment rate create structural challenges that affect quality of life and safety outcomes. For prospective residents, the honest answer is that Pascagoula can be a rewarding place to live — particularly in its lower-crime coastal and residential zones — but it requires informed neighborhood selection and consistent personal safety habits. Families and retirees who research specific areas using the crime map and engage with community watch programs tend to report more positive experiences than those who move in without that groundwork.

How can I use the Pascagoula crime map effectively?

To get the most from the crime map, filter by incident type and date range rather than viewing all crimes at once. Start by isolating property crimes — since these are statistically the most common in Pascagoula — and identify which specific streets or zones show repeated incidents. Then layer in violent crime data to see whether those hotspots overlap. Pay attention to time-of-day patterns: many property crimes in cities with Pascagoula's profile peak during daytime hours when homes are unoccupied. Cross-reference what you see on the map with the city's socioeconomic data — areas with the highest overlap of low income, high vacancy, and dense incident clustering represent the highest-risk zones. For the most current data, the Pascagoula Police Department publishes official reports that complement the visual mapping tools.