Can An Elementary School Teacher Afford Rent in Southaven, MS?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 34% of gross income.
Southaven rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Mississippi state estimate).
About rent and an elementary school teacher salary
Teacher affordability is one of the sharpest local-rent lenses available, because public-school pay scales are set by state and district while rent is set by local market conditions. The result is that two teachers with identical credentials can face very different rent burdens depending on where they teach. At the national-average teacher salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,677 a month in rent — comfortable in most of the Midwest and South, tight in mid-cost cities, and out of reach without roommates in the most expensive coastal markets. The per-city pages below combine local rent with local teacher-pay estimates to show where the math works.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Mississippi cities have lower median rent than Southaven, which improves the affordability math on an elementary school teacher salary:
Compare with full rent data for Southaven
View full rent data for Southaven, MS →Frequently asked questions
Can an elementary school teacher afford rent in Southaven, MS?
Median rent in Southaven is $1,540 a month. A typical elementary school teacher in Mississippi earns about $54,335 a year, which makes that rent 34% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can an elementary school teacher afford in Southaven?
Using the 30% rule, an elementary school teacher salary in Mississippi (~$54,335/yr) supports up to $1,358 a month in rent. Southaven's current median rent is $1,540/mo, which is $182/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does an elementary school teacher work to cover rent in Southaven?
At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, an elementary school teacher in Mississippi works roughly 59 hours a month to cover Southaven's median rent of $1,540.
Where is rent cheaper than Southaven for an elementary school teacher?
Nearby Mississippi cities with lower median rent include Diberville ($1,538/mo), Horn Lake ($1,533/mo), Horn Lake ($1,533/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on an elementary school teacher salary.