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Tupelo, Mississippi Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

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Tupelo is the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi and has a population of 38,114 according to the 2019 US Census. It is located in Northeast Mississippi and is surrounded by hills and forests. The climate in Tupelo is humid subtropical with hot summers and mild winters. The city experiences an average of 60 inches of rain per year.

Tupelo has a rich history that dates back to before the Civil War. It was home to both Confederate and Union troops during the war, but it was not until after Reconstruction that Tupelo began to develop into the modern city it is today. The city was home to some famous people including Elvis Presley who was born in Tupelo in 1935.

Tupelo operates under a mayor-council form of government which consists of six council members elected from districts as well as a mayor elected at-large. The economy of Tupelo revolves around manufacturing, healthcare, education, retail, and tourism. Major employers include BancorpSouth, North Mississippi Medical Center, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, Barnes Crossing Mall, and more recently Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing (TIEM).

The public school system in Tupelo consists of 10 elementary schools (K-5), 3 middle schools (6-8), 3 high schools (9-12), and one alternative school (K-12). There are also several private schools including St Luke’s Episcopal School which serves grades preK-8th grade. Notable landmarks include Elvis Presley’s birthplace home on East Tupelo Street as well as Natchez Trace Parkway which runs through the city along with many historical sites such as Brices Crossroads National Battlefield Site and Old Town Cemetery.

Population: 34,211. Estimated population in July 2024: 35,673 (+4.3% change)
Males: 16,083 (47.0%), Females: 18,128 (53.0%)

Lee County

Zip codes: 38801, 38804.

Demographics

Median resident age: 34.9 years
Median household income: $38,401
Median house value: $92,800

Population by Race

Races in Tupelo:

  • White Non-Hispanic (68.7%)
  • Black (28.3%)
  • Hispanic (1.4%)
  • Two or more races (0.8%)

Ancestries: United States (17.7%), English (10.0%), Irish (8.8%), German (5.3%), Scotch-Irish (2.4%), Scottish (2.4%).

Elevation: 290 feet

Land area: 51.1 square miles

Population by Education

Tupelo, Mississippi is a small city located in the northeast corner of the state, near the Tennessee border. As of 2019, it has a population of 38,121 people. The population is fairly diverse and is made up of a mix of ages and ethnicities. The median household income for Tupelo residents is $41,735, which is slightly lower than the national average.

The cost of living in Tupelo is generally lower than most other parts of the United States. Housing costs are particularly low with the median home value being around $128,000 which is significantly below the national average. Renting an apartment in Tupelo will cost you around $800 per month on average while utility costs tend to be lower than other places across America. Groceries and healthcare costs are also quite low compared to other cities in the country. In addition to its affordability, Tupelo also offers a variety of recreational activities such as museums, parks and outdoor recreation spots that make it an enjoyable place to live for those looking for an affordable lifestyle with plenty to do.

For population 25 years and over in Tupelo

  • High school or higher: 81.2%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.7%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 8.5%
  • Unemployed: 4.6%
  • Mean travel time to work: 15.9 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Tupelo city

  • Never married: 23.7%
  • Now married: 53.6%
  • Separated: 1.9%
  • Widowed: 7.7%
  • Divorced: 13.0%

1.6% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +3,226 (+10.4%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers in Tupelo:

  • NORTH MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER (830 S GLOSTER)
  • NORTH MISSISSIPPI STATE HOSPITAL (1937 BRIAR RIDGE RD)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Tupelo:

  • PONTOTOC HEALTH SERVICE CAH (about 20 miles; PONTOTOC, MS)
  • OKOLONA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 20 miles; OKOLONA, MS)
  • BAPTIST MEMORIAL HOSPITAL UNION COUNTY (about 25 miles; NEW ALBANY, MS)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Tupelo:

  • TUPELO RGNL (about 3 miles; TUPELO, MS; Abbreviation: TUP)
  • COLUMBUS AFB (about 48 miles; COLUMBUS, MS; Abbreviation: CBM)
  • UNIVERSITY-OXFORD (about 57 miles; OXFORD, MS; Abbreviation: UOX)

Other public-use airports nearest to Tupelo:

  • OKOLONA MUNI-RICHARD STOVALL FIELD (about 18 miles; OKOLONA, MS; Abbreviation: 5A4)
  • PONTOTOC COUNTY (about 22 miles; PONTOTOC, MS; Abbreviation: 22M)
  • BOONEVILLE/BALDWYN (about 24 miles; BOONEVILLE/BALDWYN, MS; Abbreviation: 8M1)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/Universities in Tupelo:

  • CREATIONS COLLEGE OF COSMETOLOGY (Full-time enrollment: 57; Location: 2419 W MAIN ST; Private, for-profit)
  • NORTH MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER MEDICAL TECH PROG (Full-time enrollment: 5; Location: 830 S GLOSTER; Private, not-for-profit)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Tupelo:

  • ITAWAMBA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 24 miles; FULTON, MS; Full-time enrollment: 2,673)
  • NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 31 miles; BOONEVILLE, MS; Full-time enrollment: 2,628)
  • MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY (about 56 miles; MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS; Full-time enrollment: 14,613)
  • MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN (about 57 miles; COLUMBUS, MS; Full-time enrollment: 2,115)
  • UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MAIN CAMPUS (about 57 miles; UNIVERSITY, MS; Full-time enrollment: 11,068)
  • UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA (about 83 miles; FLORENCE, AL; Full-time enrollment: 4,770)
  • NORTHWEST SHOALS COMMUNITY COLLEGE-MUSCLE SHOALS (about 84 miles; MUSCLE SHOALS, AL; Full-time enrollment: 2,669)

Schools

Public high schools in Tupelo:

  • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,877; Location: 4125 CLIFF GOOKIN BLVD; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • TUPELO LEE CO VOC TECH SCHOOL (Location: 4125 CLIFF GOOKIN BLVD; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high schools in Tupelo:

  • TUPELO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 170; Location: 1801 E MAIN ST; Grades: PK – 12)
  • LAKEVIEW BAPT ACD (Students: 54; Location: 830 SHUMACOLA TRAIL; Grades: PK – 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Tupelo:

  • TUPELO MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 1,181; Location: 1009 VARSITY; Grades: 07 – 08)
  • MILAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 717; Location: 720 WEST JEFFERSON; Grades: 04 – 06)
  • LAWNDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 635; Location: 1563 MITCHELL ROAD; Grades: 04 – 06)
  • THOMAS STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 397; Location: 520 S THOMAS STREET; Grades: KG – 03)
  • LAWHON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 390; Location: 140 LAKE STREET; Grades: KG – 03)
  • CARVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 368; Location: 910 NORTH GREEN STREET; Grades: 04 – 06)
  • JOYNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 361; Location: 1201 JOYNER AVENUE; Grades: KG – 03)
  • PIERCE STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 340; Location: 1008 PIERCE STREET; Grades: KG – 03)
  • RANKIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 320; Location: 1908 FORREST STREET; Grades: KG – 03)
  • PARKWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 292; Location: 628 RUTHERFORD ROAD; Grades: KG – 03)

Private primary/middle schools in Tupelo:

  • TUPELO CHRISTIAN PREP SCHOOL (Students: 233; Location: 2094 MCCULLOUGH BLVD; Grades: KG – 8)
  • CHILDREN’S HOUSE MONTESSORI (Students: 25; Location: 2225 WEST MAIN STREET; Grades: KG – KG)

Libraries

Library in Tupelo:

  • LEE-ITAWAMBA LIBRARY SYSTEM (Operating income: $1,099,721; Location: 219 N.MADISON; 192,539 books; 4,478 audio materials; 1,433 video materials; 310 serial subscriptions)

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