Is Gulfport, MS a Good Place to Buy a Home in 2026?

By Randy Richardson, Broker Associate, The 4th Right Team at Century 21 J. Carter & Company. 

Quick Answer: Gulfport is Mississippi's second-most populous city and the co-county seat of Harrison County, on the Gulf between Long Beach and Biloxi. Redfin reported a median sale price of $216,382 for the three months ending June 2026, up 11% from a year earlier, at about $133 per square foot. Homes averaged 61 days on market. The city counted 72,926 residents in the 2020 Census. The main residential zips are 39501, 39503, and 39507, and two public school districts serve different parts of town, so your exact address matters more here than in most cities.

What's Gulfport actually like?

It's the Coast's biggest city and its working hub. The Port of Gulfport is one of the busiest ports on the Gulf of Mexico. The Naval Construction Battalion Center, home of the Seabees, and the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center are both here. Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport sits inside the city.

Downtown is on the rise. The Mississippi Aquarium opened on August 29, 2020, with more than 200 species on a 5.8-acre campus. Fishbone Alley has murals, local bars, and independent restaurants. And Channel South, a $105 million mixed-use project with apartments, a hotel, shops, and restaurants, broke ground in March 2026 on the old Great Southern Hotel site. It's expected to open in August 2027.

Gulfport is also growing. It went from 67,793 residents in 2010 to 72,926 in 2020.

Which Gulfport zip code fits you?

Gulfport covers a lot of ground, and each main zip has its own feel. 39501 is the older part of town closer to the water, with historic streets and the downtown. 39503 stretches north toward I-10 and beyond, with a lot of newer construction and the outlet mall corridor. 39507 covers eastern Gulfport, including neighborhoods like Bayou View.

A zip code doesn't tell you city limits or school zoning, so confirm both for the exact address. And if you're comparing zip codes, drive each one. "Gulfport" covers a lot of different neighborhoods.

How much does a home in Gulfport cost in 2026?

Redfin reported a median sale price of $216,382 for the three months ending June 2026, up 11% from a year earlier. Price per square foot held flat at about $133, so much of that median gain reflects which homes sold, not homes gaining 11% in value. Gulfport remains one of the more affordable larger cities on the Coast.

The market has cooled on speed. Homes averaged 61 days on market, up from 38 a year earlier, and sold for about 97% of list price. Redfin rates Gulfport as somewhat competitive. With 283 sales in June 2026 alone, Gulfport has more volume than anywhere else on the Coast, so the comps are reliable.

Most of the housing is single-family, with plenty of classic ranch and brick homes in the older parts of town and newer subdivisions toward I-10 and north. That also means construction standards change from one part of town to another. If you're a first-time buyer, look at down payment help on the Coast.

Is Gulfport a good place to buy near NCBC or Keesler?

For military families, Gulfport puts you close to the Naval Construction Battalion Center. Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi is a manageable commute, too. If you're using a VA loan, here's how that works near Keesler or NCBC Gulfport.

The rest of the Coast is close. Long Beach is right next door to the west, Biloxi is about 20 minutes east, and Saucier is 20 to 30 minutes north on Highway 49. These are rough off-peak estimates.

What is there to do in Gulfport?

More than most people expect. Jones Park sits on the water with a splash pad, playground, and amphitheater, and it hosts the city's big Harbor Lights winter festival. Brickyard Bayou Park has a dog park, a bike trail, and disc golf. The Gulfport Sportsplex hosts organized sports, and Gulf Islands Water Park is here, too.

The city's retail center is at I-10 and Highway 49, anchored by Gulfport Premium Outlets and the Crossroads Center. Highway 49 is lined with grocery stores, big-box retailers, and restaurants.

What schools serve Gulfport, MS?

This is the part that trips people up. Gulfport is served by two separate public school districts. Part of the city falls under the Gulfport School District, which enrolled about 6,113 students in 2022-2023. Other parts fall under the Harrison County School District, a large county district with about 14,780 students that also serves Saucier, Lyman, and most of the rural areas north of the interstate.

Which district and which school a home is zoned for depends on the exact address, and those lines don't follow zip codes cleanly. Check the assignment directly with the district before you commit, and look up the current grades on the Mississippi Succeeds Report Card.

What about flood risk and insurance in Gulfport?

Katrina damaged or destroyed 9,571 houses in Gulfport in 2005, so the city knows storm damage firsthand. First Street modeling shown on Redfin puts about 34% of Gulfport properties at severe flood risk over the next 30 years. That's lower than most Coast towns, but it's still about one in three, and it varies block by block.

Homes near the beach and the bayous generally carry more exposure than homes north of the railroad tracks and I-10. Here's how the three bands of the Coast compare. Harrison County is in Mississippi's coastal Wind Pool area, so plan for wind coverage. Insurance can vary a lot depending on distance from the water and roof age.

Pull the FEMA flood zone for the specific address, get the elevation certificate, and get a real insurance quote before you're under contract.

By the Numbers

Median sale price: $216,382, three months ending June 2026, up 11% (Redfin)

Median price per square foot: $133, flat year over year (Redfin)

Average days on market: 61, up from 38 (Redfin)

Sale-to-list ratio: about 97% (Redfin)

Homes sold, June 2026: 283 (Redfin)

Properties facing severe flood risk over 30 years: about 34% (First Street, via Redfin)

City population: 67,793 in 2010, 72,926 in 2020

Land area: about 55.6 square miles

Houses damaged or destroyed in Katrina: 9,571

The Bottom Line

Gulfport gives you the most house for the money of any big city on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, a real mix of neighborhoods, and a downtown that's getting new life. It has the deepest housing market on the Coast, so pricing is easier to trust. The trade-offs are two school districts, flood risk that changes block by block, and a market that's slowed a bit. Check the specific address before you fall for the house. When you're ready to look, start with homes for sale in Gulfport.

Keep reading: Gulfport vs. Biloxi: Which Mississippi Gulf Coast City Is Right for You? and Moving From Mobile to Gulfport, MS: North of I-10 Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gulfport, MS a buyer's market or a seller's market right now?
It's fairly balanced. Prices have held up, but homes are taking longer to sell than a year ago and typically close a few percent below asking.

What's the median home price in Gulfport?
Gulfport has been selling in the low $200,000s, one of the lower price points among the Coast's bigger cities. Prices vary a lot by zip code and neighborhood, so recent comparable sales nearby are the best guide.

Does Gulfport flood?
Parts of the city are in mapped flood zones and parts aren't. Risk runs higher near the beach and bayous. Always pull a flood zone determination for the specific address before you buy.

What school district is my house in if I buy in Gulfport?
It depends on the address. Gulfport is covered by both the Gulfport School District and the Harrison County School District, and the lines don't follow zip codes cleanly. Confirm directly with the district.

How far is Gulfport from the airport?
Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is inside the city, so it's a short drive from most of town.

Are there new construction homes in Gulfport?
Yes. Newer subdivisions are concentrated mostly toward I-10 and the northern parts of the city, in and around 39503.

Sources

Redfin, Gulfport MS Housing Market: Median sale price, price per square foot, days on market, homes sold, sale-to-list ratio, competitiveness, and First Street flood risk, three months ending June 2026 (checked September 2026)

Wikipedia, Gulfport, Mississippi: Population, state rank, co-county seat, land area, zip codes, Katrina damage, port, military installations, Mississippi Aquarium, school districts, airport

Magnolia Tribune, Channel South, March 2026: Project value, groundbreaking, and scope

WLBT/WLOX, Gulfport town center project breaks ground, March 2026: Expected August 2027 opening

Wikipedia, Gulfport School District: Enrollment

Wikipedia, Harrison County School District: District enrollment and areas served

Mississippi Code Section 83-34-1: Coast area counties for the Windstorm Underwriting Association

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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