I have some questions about your state. (Jackson, Gulfport: crime, hotels)

[Scotslass]

Originally Posted by mccarley

I lived in Mississippi for 3 1/2 years and it was a good experience and I enjoyed a lot of it.
But the facts are that Mississippi is the poorest, fattest, undereducated, has the most unwed mothers of all the US States and I'm sure there are other lists Mississippi is at the bottom of. Mississippi has a lot of good things, but you are going to have to take the good with the bad.

Like here I guess you gotta take the good with the bad, but there is not alot of bad except the climate, taxation...

Is MS different from the rest of the South, like i've been to SC and it was fab. You would never run out of things to do and there were alot of ammenities there, malls, stores, restaurants, parks, lakes etc. I liked that. I also never seemed to see alot of run down, non progressive areas. It was steeped in southern charm but was modern if that makes sense.

I've heard the Delta part of MS is very poor and probably like nothing i've ever seen before so i'd probably avoid that area. I have heard alot of positives about Oxford, Tupelo, Meridian, Hattiesburg, Starkville etc.

Is the cost of living, housing expensive in MS compared to the rest of the south? I know it is ALOT cheaper there than here by a long shot.

[southernbliss]

It is cheaper in Ms. by far but have you heard the saying "you get what you pay for" that can be said about a lot of places in the Ms.

The delta is a very poor part of the state but I like going in it maybe cause it makes me think about everything I have.

I do like Jackson at all but I am sure there are people here that loves it.
Hattiesburg is not to bad, there are things to do like the mall, skateing,movies and lots of good places to eat. the schools in Hattiesburg suck so if you have kids you may want to think about that.
also car tags are high in the city.
Tupelo is nice also, I like it better than Hattiesburg but again the schools suck.
Meridian is a small town feel and have a couple of good schools just not that much to do.
Oxford I know nothing about.
I know nothing about Starkville other than I have driven in it and that is a ugly place.

[Muhnay]

I am from El Paso, a land locked piece of land.. when I lived in Mississippi, you learn to watch the News, and keep you eye on what tropical storms are doing out in the gulf and so forth.. if you think its coming your way you start to make plans of leaving or batting down the hatches.

Where I worked we would talk about it and what we should do.. and I felt very safe and secure. The people I knew were helpful. Hurricanes give you fair warning most of the time.

All the areas you listed are still with in Hurricane range. They hit many miles in land and if your on the outter edge your in more danger due to Tornados, and flooding just like the people who are in the midst of it. Also know that a hurricane can be as strong as a CAT 3 as it crosses land far into a state.. so just because you live off the coast does not make you any safer.

Good Luck.. I really suggest the coast. Lots of jobs there, great people, more open minded than deeper parts of the state. Still lots of great fishing, floundering, and hunting to be hand. I was in the city 3 days before I was asked to go fishing and floundering... so if your into it, I am sure you'll find buddies quick to share in those type of adventures.

Good luck, and welcome home to Mississippi.

[Scotslass]

Thanks very much for your information and advice, i am totally clueless lol.

I think I may stick to the Tupelo area or near there. I am drawn to the coast but i've just never had to deal with extreme weather before. The worst weather we've ever had here was 120 MPH winds and that was scary for us.

I was told as a RN i could earn $50,000 starting, is that a good wage to actually have a decent 3 bedroom house in a nice area? If my fiance gets this job he could earn up to $40,000 starting too.

We're praying that everything works out.

Okolona is just too quiet for me and its a dying town, nothing is there and for a young couple like us we'd get bored easily.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by Scotslass

Like here I guess you gotta take the good with the bad, but there is not alot of bad except the climate, taxation...

Is MS different from the rest of the South, like i've been to SC and it was fab. You would never run out of things to do and there were alot of ammenities there, malls, stores, restaurants, parks, lakes etc. I liked that. I also never seemed to see alot of run down, non progressive areas. It was steeped in southern charm but was modern if that makes sense.

I've heard the Delta part of MS is very poor and probably like nothing i've ever seen before so i'd probably avoid that area. I have heard alot of positives about Oxford, Tupelo, Meridian, Hattiesburg, Starkville etc.

Is the cost of living, housing expensive in MS compared to the rest of the south? I know it is ALOT cheaper there than here by a long shot.

Have you considered looking at the suburbs surrounding Birmingham? It wouldn't be all that bad of a commute to your inlaws in MS once I-22 is completed. It seems like you're desiring a more suburban type area, and Birmingham would provide that, as well as better job opportunities.

[Scotslass]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

Have you considered looking at the suburbs surrounding Birmingham? It wouldn't be all that bad of a commute to your inlaws in MS once I-22 is completed. It seems like you're desiring a more suburban type area, and Birmingham would provide that, as well as better job opportunities.

I'm not really looking to live in a 'burb. I could quite happily live semi rural and commute (30 mins max) to the nearest town. I would like to have at least 1 acre or less of land and a decent house, modern interior.

Like i guess living in Saltillo and commuting to Tupelo, that kinda idea. I don't think my fiance will have the option of living in AL as the company that's interested in him are based in Memphis, Southaven, Hernando, Pearl, Jackson and Biloxi though he has applied for other jobs in MS so i am not sure of the other locations. Could be anywhere.

I was just wanting an honest opinion of Mississippi for someone that has come from a country like Scotland, as some will know we're far from non progressive and very modern yet we still retain our historic looking buildings etc. I have been brought up in a very quaint and clean village but i am close to a town and city which makes life easier. I couldn't live in a city though, i like the fresh country air

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by Scotslass

I'm not really looking to live in a 'burb. I could quite happily live semi rural and commute (30 mins max) to the nearest town. I would like to have at least 1 acre or less of land and a decent house, modern interior.

Like i guess living in Saltillo and commuting to Tupelo, that kinda idea. I don't think my fiance will have the option of living in AL as the company that's interested in him are based in Memphis, Southaven, Hernando, Pearl, Jackson and Biloxi though he has applied for other jobs in MS so i am not sure of the other locations. Could be anywhere.

I was just wanting an honest opinion of Mississippi for someone that has come from a country like Scotland, as some will know we're far from non progressive and very modern yet we still retain our historic looking buildings etc. I have been brought up in a very quaint and clean village but i am close to a town and city which makes life easier. I couldn't live in a city though, i like the fresh country air

Stay away from Holly Springs, that town sucks.

[Scotslass]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

Stay away from Holly Springs, that town sucks.

Really?

For the size of Aberdeen it looks like a lovely town with its own lake.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by Scotslass

Really?

For the size of Aberdeen it looks like a lovely town with its own lake.

There's a few good areas and there are some beautiful historic homes, one of which was featured in the movie Cookies Fortune. Other than that, the town is depressing and much of it seems ghetto. I suppose some of the surrounding rural areas like Pott's Camp might be okay.

Oh, and Victor's Pizza is pretty good, if it's still open.

[Scotslass]

Originally Posted by southernnaturelover

There's a few good areas and there are some beautiful historic homes, one of which was featured in the movie Cookies Fortune. Other than that, the town is depressing and much of it seems ghetto. I suppose some of the surrounding rural areas like Pott's Camp might be okay.

Oh, and Victor's Pizza is pretty good, if it's still open.

Are alot of the rural MS towns run down like that? If so i may stick to an actuall big sized town like Tupelo. I still have my malls, stores, restuarants etc. Besides its not too big.

I got an email from my fiance's potential employer and he said that he could be based in either:

Memphis (He could live in Hernando, heard its nice there)
Jackson (Not sure where but i've heard Jackson is not safe)
Tupelo