Mississippi’s 50
Top Cities for Fit Lifestyles
2020
Extensive plains, rolling hills, and broad rivers make up the Mississippi landscape that encourages staying fit and active. A smaller amount of gym facilities means that fitness enthusiasts utilize the plethora of natural landscapes to run, swim, bike, and kayak to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Agritourism is a significant feature of Mississippi’s industry, bringing to life a growing connection to nutrition and wellness.
Interesting things to know about Mississippi:
- The University of Mississippi is the only federally-funded research center investigating cannabis’s medical effects.
- Mississippi is home to the longest man-made beach in the world, stretching along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
- 63% of Mississippi is covered in forests, perfect for hiking through nature.
14
%
The percentage of adults who report excessive drinking. Heavy drinking is linked to higher blood pressure, poorer liver function, increased stroke risk and larger waistlines.
31
%
The percentage of adults who report lack of physical activity.
37
%
The percentage of adults who report a BMI — or body mass index — above 30%. Higher BMI may be an indicator of greater risk to physical health.
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1
Greenville
Fit Score: 83.33
29,898
800
350
190
430
3.54
210
16
4.8
No
100
15
Greenville, MS
29,898
800
350
190 
430
3.54
210
16
4.8
No
100
15![](https://barbend.com/wp-content/plugins/bbstudy/images/icons/25.gif"){kind=icon}
2
Madison
Fit Score: 82.9
25,676
800
240
50
310
3.75
150
10
3.4
Yes
150
11
Madison, MS
25,676 800 240 50 310 3.75 150 10 3.4 Yes 150 11
3
West Point
Fit Score: 82.55
10,520
670
310
150
370
3.64
200
14
4.4
No
110
14
West Point, MS
10,520 670 310 150 370 3.64 200 14 4.4 No 110 14
4
Clarksdale
Fit Score: 81.99
15,304
720
320
160
420
3.57
230
16
4.8
Yes
100
16
Clarksdale, MS
15,304 720 320 160 420 3.57 230 16 4.8 Yes 100 16
5
Byram
Fit Score: 81.83
11,655
700
320
120
390
3.75
190
13
4.1
Yes
120
14
Byram, MS
11,655 700 320 120 390 3.75 190 13 4.1 Yes 120 14
6
Grenada
Fit Score: 81.78
12,466
650
340
80
370
3.33
190
13
4.1
No
120
13
Grenada, MS
12,466 650 340 80 370 3.33 190 13 4.1 No 120 13
7
Clinton
Fit Score: 81.6
25,179
700
320
120
390
3.75
190
13
4.1
Yes
120
14
Clinton, MS
25,179 700 320 120 390 3.75 190 13 4.1 Yes 120 14
8
McComb
Fit Score: 81.34
13,045
540
340
90
350
3.22
220
15
4.6
No
110
15
McComb, MS
13,045 540 340 90 350 3.22 220 15 4.6 No 110 15
9
Ridgeland
Fit Score: 81.1
24,188
800
240
50
310
3.75
150
10
3.4
Yes
150
11
Ridgeland, MS
24,188 800 240 50 310 3.75 150 10 3.4 Yes 150 11
10
Columbus
Fit Score: 81.03
23,853
670
290
70
370
3.71
210
12
3.9
No
130
13
Columbus, MS
23,853 670 290 70 370 3.71 210 12 3.9 No 130 13
11
Meridian
Fit Score: 81.02
37,325
600
330
110
360
3.64
210
13
4.2
No
120
13
Meridian, MS
37,325 600 330 110 360 3.64 210 13 4.2 No 120 13
12
Greenwood
Fit Score: 80.95
13,790
690
330
310
420
3.57
220
17
5
No
100
16
Greenwood, MS
13,790 690 330 310 420 3.57 220 17 5 No 100 16
13
Canton
Fit Score: 80.77
12,232
800
240
50
310
3.75
150
10
3.4
Yes
150
11
Canton, MS
12,232 800 240 50 310 3.75 150 10 3.4 Yes 150 11
14
Jackson
Fit Score: 80.76
164,422
700
320
120
390
3.75
190
13
4.1
Yes
120
14
Jackson, MS
164,422 700 320 120 390 3.75 190 13 4.1 Yes 120 14
15
Gulf Park E.
Fit Score: 80.59
6,461
770
270
110
330
3.54
190
12
3.8
No
150
12
Gulf Park Estates, MS
6,461 770 270 110 330 3.54 190 12 3.8 No 150 12
16
Petal
Fit Score: 80.56
10,674
880
280
70
350
3.57
190
13
4
No
150
13
Petal, MS
10,674 880 280 70 350 3.57 190 13 4 No 150 13
17
Vicksburg
Fit Score: 80.23
22,136
640
320
110
390
3.43
200
13
4.2
Yes
120
13
Vicksburg, MS
22,136 640 320 110 390 3.43 200 13 4.2 Yes 120 13
18
Gulf Hills
Fit Score: 80
8,249
770
270
110
330
3.54
190
12
3.8
No
150
12
Gulf Hills, MS
8,249 770 270 110 330 3.54 190 12 3.8 No 150 12
19
Ocean Sprin.
Fit Score: 79.91
17,809
770
270
110
330
3.54
190
12
3.8
No
150
12
Ocean Springs, MS
17,809 770 270 110 330 3.54 190 12 3.8 No 150 12
20
Latimer
Fit Score: 79.89
7,209
770
270
110
330
3.54
190
12
3.8
No
150
12
Latimer, MS
7,209 770 270 110 330 3.54 190 12 3.8 No 150 12
21
Gautier
Fit Score: 79.68
18,566
770
270
110
330
3.54
190
12
3.8
No
150
12
Gautier, MS
18,566 770 270 110 330 3.54 190 12 3.8 No 150 12
22
Hattiesburg
Fit Score: 79.65
45,951
880
280
70
350
3.57
190
13
4
No
150
13
Hattiesburg, MS
45,951 880 280 70 350 3.57 190 13 4 No 150 13
23
St. Martin
Fit Score: 79.46
8,242
770
270
110
330
3.54
190
12
3.8
No
150
12
St. Martin, MS
8,242 770 270 110 330 3.54 190 12 3.8 No 150 12
24
Natchez
Fit Score: 79.35
15,009
690
310
130
380
3.15
230
14
4.3
No
130
14
Natchez, MS
15,009 690 310 130 380 3.15 230 14 4.3 No 130 14
25
Long Beach
Fit Score: 79.32
15,824
690
300
160
340
3.43
210
13
4.1
No
140
13
Long Beach, MS
15,824 690 300 160 340 3.43 210 13 4.1 No 140 13
26
Moss Point
Fit Score: 79.3
13,378
770
270
110
330
3.54
190
12
3.8
No
150
12
Moss Point, MS
13,378 770 270 110 330 3.54 190 12 3.8 No 150 12
27
Pass Christ.
Fit Score: 79.27
6,075
690
300
160
340
3.43
210
13
4.1
No
140
13
Pass Christian, MS
6,075 690 300 160 340 3.43 210 13 4.1 No 140 13
28
Pascagoula
Fit Score: 79.26
21,685
770
270
110
330
3.54
190
12
3.8
No
150
12
Pascagoula, MS
21,685 770 270 110 330 3.54 190 12 3.8 No 150 12
29
Brookhaven
Fit Score: 79.12
12,089
480
350
120
400
3.33
210
13
4.3
No
120
14
Brookhaven, MS
12,089 480 350 120 400 3.33 210 13 4.3 No 120 14
30
D'Iberville
Fit Score: 79.03
13,831
690
300
160
340
3.43
210
13
4.1
No
140
13
D'Iberville, MS
13,831 690 300 160 340 3.43 210 13 4.1 No 140 13
31
Biloxi
Fit Score: 78.99
45,968
690
300
160
340
3.43
210
13
4.1
No
140
13
Biloxi, MS
45,968 690 300 160 340 3.43 210 13 4.1 No 140 13
32
Brandon
Fit Score: 78.89
24,156
700
290
100
350
3.71
160
10
3.3
No
160
11
Brandon, MS
24,156 700 290 100 350 3.71 160 10 3.3 No 160 11
33
Olive Branc.
Fit Score: 78.87
38,149
700
300
90
320
3.61
190
10
3.4
No
160
11
Olive Branch, MS
38,149 700 300 90 320 3.61 190 10 3.4 No 160 11
34
Booneville
Fit Score: 78.85
8,740
580
400
40
340
3.54
200
14
4.5
No
130
14
Booneville, MS
8,740 580 400 40 340 3.54 200 14 4.5 No 130 14
35
Hernando
Fit Score: 78.82
16,317
700
300
90
320
3.61
190
10
3.4
No
160
11
Hernando, MS
16,317 700 300 90 320 3.61 190 10 3.4 No 160 11
36
Gulfport
Fit Score: 78.75
71,870
690
300
160
340
3.43
210
13
4.1
No
140
13
Gulfport, MS
71,870 690 300 160 340 3.43 210 13 4.1 No 140 13
37
Cleveland
Fit Score: 78.66
11,501
490
320
240
390
3.61
230
17
5
No
110
16
Cleveland, MS
11,501 490 320 240 390 3.61 230 17 5 No 110 16
38
Southaven
Fit Score: 78.48
54,944
700
300
90
320
3.61
190
10
3.4
No
160
11
Southaven, MS
54,944 700 300 90 320 3.61 190 10 3.4 No 160 11
39
Flowood
Fit Score: 78.4
9,219
700
290
100
350
3.71
160
10
3.3
No
160
11
Flowood, MS
9,219 700 290 100 350 3.71 160 10 3.3 No 160 11
40
Saltillo
Fit Score: 78.25
5,019
530
310
90
310
3.68
200
12
3.8
No
150
12
Saltillo, MS
5,019 530 310 90 310 3.68 200 12 3.8 No 150 12
41
Kosciusko
Fit Score: 78.15
6,837
340
340
120
400
3.47
190
13
4.2
No
120
13
Kosciusko, MS
6,837 340 340 120 400 3.47 190 13 4.2 No 120 13
42
Holly Sprin.
Fit Score: 78.12
7,652
410
350
80
380
3.5
180
12
4
No
130
12
Holly Springs, MS
7,652 410 350 80 380 3.5 180 12 4 No 130 12
43
Horn Lake
Fit Score: 78.01
27,127
700
300
90
320
3.61
190
10
3.4
No
160
11
Horn Lake, MS
27,127 700 300 90 320 3.61 190 10 3.4 No 160 11
44
Ripley
Fit Score: 77.96
5,264
610
380
60
370
3.47
200
13
4.2
No
140
13
Ripley, MS
5,264 610 380 60 370 3.47 200 13 4.2 No 140 13
45
Richland
Fit Score: 77.93
7,187
700
290
100
350
3.71
160
10
3.3
No
160
11
Richland, MS
7,187 700 290 100 350 3.71 160 10 3.3 No 160 11
46
Pearl
Fit Score: 77.91
26,471
700
290
100
350
3.71
160
10
3.3
No
160
11
Pearl, MS
26,471 700 290 100 350 3.71 160 10 3.3 No 160 11
47
Columbia
Fit Score: 77.87
5,941
350
290
180
360
3.29
200
14
4.4
No
120
14
Columbia, MS
5,941 350 290 180 360 3.29 200 14 4.4 No 120 14
48
Aberdeen
Fit Score: 77.58
5,265
240
310
30
360
3.68
200
12
3.8
No
130
13
Aberdeen, MS
5,265 240 310 30 360 3.68 200 12 3.8 No 130 13
49
New Albany
Fit Score: 77.54
8,761
590
290
60
360
3.54
190
12
3.9
No
150
13
New Albany, MS
8,761 590 290 60 360 3.54 190 12 3.9 No 150 13
50
Philadelphi.
Fit Score: 77.53
7,172
450
330
40
390
3.64
220
15
4.7
No
130
15
Philadelphia, MS
7,172 450 330 40 390 3.64 220 15 4.7 No 130 15Didn’t Find Your City in the Top 50?
| Rank | City | Population | Exercise Opportunities | Physical Inactivity | Healthy Food Access | Obesity | Air Pollution (PM2.5) | Smoking | Drinking | Physical Distress | Fit Score |
| 51 | Amory | 6871 | 240 | 310 | 30 | 360 | 3.68 | 200 | 130 | 3.8 | 77.51 |
| 52 | Forest | 5608 | 690 | 350 | 90 | 430 | 3.57 | 240 | 130 | 4.5 | 77.5 |
| 53 | Louisville | 6227 | 270 | 340 | 70 | 370 | 3.54 | 210 | 120 | 4.7 | 77.28 |
| 54 | Tupelo | 38206 | 530 | 310 | 90 | 310 | 3.68 | 200 | 150 | 3.8 | 77.26 |
| 55 | Laurel | 18478 | 400 | 330 | 50 | 420 | 3.54 | 190 | 130 | 4.3 | 77.22 |
| 56 | Batesville | 7257 | 280 | 380 | 120 | 370 | 3.5 | 210 | 130 | 4.2 | 76.47 |
| 57 | Senatobia | 8010 | 340 | 300 | 150 | 390 | 3.5 | 180 | 140 | 3.6 | 76.47 |
| 58 | Yazoo City | 10825 | 430 | 340 | 210 | 410 | 3.47 | 250 | 120 | 4.7 | 76.47 |
| 59 | Picayune | 11008 | 490 | 320 | 60 | 370 | 3.26 | 180 | 150 | 3.9 | 76.34 |
| 60 | Starkville | 25309 | 560 | 250 | 150 | 350 | 3.61 | 200 | 150 | 4.3 | 75.95 |
| 61 | Oxford | 24528 | 800 | 270 | 160 | 320 | 3.47 | 180 | 170 | 4.1 | 75.37 |
| 62 | Corinth | 14485 | 280 | 350 | 50 | 360 | 3.5 | 190 | 140 | 4.2 | 75.28 |
| 63 | Pontotoc | 6144 | 290 | 290 | 50 | 360 | 3.57 | 190 | 150 | 4 | 75.1 |
| 64 | Diamondhead | 8044 | 470 | 360 | 150 | 360 | 3.29 | 190 | 150 | 3.9 | 75.03 |
| 65 | West Hattiesburg | 6016 | 540 | 260 | 50 | 350 | 3.4 | 190 | 170 | 3.5 | 74.64 |
| 66 | Indianola | 9252 | 280 | 330 | 250 | 460 | 3.61 | 240 | 120 | 4.7 | 74.45 |
| 67 | Waveland | 6322 | 470 | 360 | 150 | 360 | 3.29 | 190 | 150 | 3.9 | 74.26 |
| 68 | Bay St. Louis | 13515 | 470 | 360 | 150 | 360 | 3.29 | 190 | 150 | 3.9 | 74.09 |
How Did We Determine the Top Cities for Fit Lifestyles?
We compiled our list of Best Cities for for Fit Lifestyle by looking at 11 key metrics backed by scientific research. Keep reading to find out which metrics we chose and how they affect slumber.