Is Bay St. Louis, MS a Good Place to Buy a Home?

Quick Answer: Bay St. Louis is a small coastal city in Hancock County, known locally for its historic Old Town district and slower, golf-cart-friendly pace. The typical home value is $230,250, up 6.3% over the past year, according to Zillow. Of the three zip codes commonly associated with the area, 39520 is the city's actual residential zip, 39521 is a PO Box–only zip, and 39522 belongs to the nearby Stennis Space Center rather than the city itself.

Where Is Bay St. Louis, and What's It Like?

Bay St. Louis sits on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Hancock County, about 50 miles from New Orleans, according to local visitor guides. About 10,200 people live here, spread across roughly 14.7 square miles, based on U.S. Census Bureau estimates. The median age is 53.3, notably older than the statewide average, which reflects the city's popularity as a retirement and second-home destination.

The city is best known for Old Town, its historic downtown along the bay, home to homes and buildings listed on the National Register and a monthly Second Saturday event with local shops and live music. The city also has a casino resort, Hollywood Casino & Resort, and miles of beach access along the Gulf.

What Does a Home in Bay St. Louis Cost Right Now?

Zillow's Home Value Index puts the typical home value in Bay St. Louis at $230,250, up 6.3% over the past year, with homes going to pending sale in around 36 days on average. That's Zillow's estimate of typical value across the whole market, not a list price or a closed sale price.

Redfin reports a median sale price of $384,770 as of May 2026, up 4.1% from a year earlier. We weren't able to pull a Realtor.com-specific number for this guide, so treat that as a gap to check before publishing if you need it. The gap between the Zillow typical-value figure and the Redfin median sale price is wider here than in most nearby cities, which likely reflects Bay St. Louis's mix of modest inland homes and higher-priced waterfront and Old Town properties pulling the median up. Local market sources also note that homes here can take longer to sell than in neighboring coastal cities, so patience and accurate pricing both matter.

What Kinds of Homes Will You Find?

Bay St. Louis has a mix of historic homes in Old Town, many dating to the late 1800s and early 1900s, along with newer construction and waterfront properties elsewhere in the city. Local real estate sources note that waterfront and near-water inventory makes up a larger share of what's for sale here than in many nearby cities, and that Old Town properties tend to carry a price premium over inland homes.

What's the Commute Like?

Bay St. Louis sits along I-10 and Highway 90, with Gulfport and Biloxi roughly 20 to 30 minutes east and New Orleans about 50 miles west, according to local visitor guides. We won't promise a specific number of minutes to any one job center, since that depends on where in the city you land and where you're headed.

Parks and Recreation

The City of Bay St. Louis Recreation Department maintains several neighborhood parks scattered around the city, along with baseball and softball leagues, tennis, soccer, and outdoor basketball, according to the city's own recreation page. City Park is a popular playground near local schools. The Duck Pond, on the edge of Old Town and the Depot District, has a walking trail, picnic tables, and a playground. The city also has extensive beach access along the Gulf.

Shopping, Dining, and Everyday Errands

Old Town is the city's shopping and dining center, with locally owned shops, art galleries, antique stores, and museums including the Alice Moseley Folk Art Museum and the BSL Mardi Gras Museum, housed near the historic L&N Train Depot. The Second Saturday event each month brings extra shopping, dining, and live music to the district. Hollywood Casino & Resort is also located in the city.

Schools

Most of Bay St. Louis falls under the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District, which runs several schools according to federal NCES data, including Bay Waveland Middle School. Some outlying properties, particularly toward the edges of the city, are zoned instead to the Hancock County School District, based in nearby Kiln. Which district and which specific school a home is zoned for depends on the exact address. Confirm school assignment directly with the district before you buy.

Practical Things to Weigh

Because Bay St. Louis is a small coastal city with a significant share of waterfront and near-water homes, flood zone status and elevation vary a lot by address, so get a flood determination for any specific property. Homeowners and windstorm insurance costs can run higher for waterfront and Old Town properties. And because two school districts serve parts of the area, don't assume a general location guarantees a specific school.

By the Numbers

Typical home value: $230,250, up 6.3% year over year (Zillow)
Median sale price: $384,770, up 4.1% year over year (Redfin, May 2026)
Population: approximately 10,200 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024)
City area: 14.7 square miles
Median age: 53.3 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024)
School districts serving the area: 2 (Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District and Hancock County School District)
Distance to New Orleans: approximately 50 miles (local visitor guides)

The Bottom Line

Bay St. Louis offers a slower coastal pace, a historic Old Town district, and a mix of housing from modest inland homes to higher-priced waterfront property. The trade-offs are a wider price range than most nearby cities, homes that can take longer to sell, and two school districts covering different parts of the area. Check the specific address before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bay St. Louis, MS a buyer's market or a seller's market right now?
Recent sale prices have risen year over year, but local market sources describe the city as not particularly competitive right now, with homes often taking longer to sell than in neighboring cities.

What's the median home price in Bay St. Louis?
Estimates vary by source. Zillow's typical home value is $230,250. Redfin's median sale price is $384,770. Check current MLS data or Realtor.com directly for the most current number, and note the wide range between waterfront and inland properties.

Does Bay St. Louis flood?
Flood risk and elevation vary significantly by address, especially near the waterfront and in Old Town. Always pull a flood zone determination for any specific property.

What school district is my house in if I buy in Bay St. Louis?
Most of the city falls under the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District, but some outlying properties are zoned to the Hancock County School District. Confirm the exact assignment with the district for your address.

What is Old Town Bay St. Louis?
Old Town is the city's historic downtown district along the bay, known for buildings listed on the National Register, local shops and galleries, and a monthly Second Saturday event.

Is Bay St. Louis close to New Orleans?
Yes, Bay St. Louis is about 50 miles from New Orleans, according to local visitor guides.

Are all the zip codes near Bay St. Louis residential?
No. Of the zip codes sometimes associated with the area, 39520 is the standard residential zip, 39521 is a PO Box–only zip, and 39522 belongs to the nearby Stennis Space Center rather than the city itself.

What's there to do in Bay St. Louis besides the beach?
Old Town shopping and dining, several museums, neighborhood parks including the Duck Pond, and Hollywood Casino & Resort.

Sources
Zillow, Bay Saint Louis, MS Home Values, updated May 31, 2026, https://www.zillow.com/home-values/37308/bay-saint-louis-ms/
Redfin, Bay St. Louis, MS Homes for Sale, accessed August 2026, https://www.redfin.com/city/1063/MS/Bay-St-Louis
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 (via Census Reporter), http://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US2803980-bay-st-louis-ms/
City of Bay St. Louis, Recreation, https://www.baystlouis-ms.gov/recreation
City of Bay St. Louis, Parks, Playgrounds & Splash Pads, https://www.baystlouis-ms.gov/recreation/page/parks-playgrounds-splash-pads
Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area, Bay St. Louis, https://msgulfcoastheritage.ms.gov/bay-st-louis/
National Center for Education Statistics, Bay Waveland School District, https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=2800570&ID=280057001233
Zip-Codes.com, ZIP Code 39521, https://www.zip-codes.com/zip-code/39521/zip-code-39521.asp

Randy Richardson | Broker Associate
The 4th Right Team | Century 21 J. Carter & Company
📞 Office: (228) 731-3881 | Cell: (228) 547-9999
📧 realtorrandyrichardson@gmail.com
🌐 www.The4thRightTeam.com

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