Blog > Ocean Springs vs. Gautier: Same Side of the Bay, Different Price
By Randy Richardson, Broker Associate, The 4th Right Team
Quick Answer: Ocean Springs and Gautier sit about 15 minutes apart in Jackson County, but Ocean Springs costs noticeably more per square foot. Redfin put the 39564 Ocean Springs zip at a $156 median sale price per square foot for the three months ending June 2026, and the 39553 Gautier zip at $129 for the three months ending August 2026. On an 1,800 square foot house, that gap is about $48,600. Ocean Springs buys you the A-rated Ocean Springs School District, a walkable downtown, and a shorter drive to Biloxi and Keesler. Gautier buys you more house for the money and a shorter drive to Ingalls. Flood risk is about the same in both zips, so the lot matters more than the town.
Which is cheaper, Ocean Springs or Gautier?
Gautier is cheaper. The same money buys more square footage there.
Redfin's numbers show the gap. For the three months ending August 2026, the median sale price in the 39553 zip was about $205,000, at $129 a square foot. For the three months ending June 2026, the 39564 Ocean Springs zip came in at about $304,000, at $156 a square foot. Those are different months, so treat the medians as a rough picture, not a head-to-head. Price per square foot is the fairer comparison, because Ocean Springs homes also run bigger on average.
Here's what the gap looks like in real life. An 1,800 square foot house at Ocean Springs' $156 is about $280,800. The same size house at Gautier's $129 is about $232,200. With 10% down at a 7.40% rate as of October 8, 2026, that's roughly $300 a month more in principal and interest for the Ocean Springs house. Run your own numbers through a mortgage calculator before you decide what the difference is worth to you.
Gautier isn't the cheapest town on the Coast. Pascagoula and Moss Point usually come in lower. But it's often the best value for buyers who want to stay close to Ocean Springs.
What do you get for the extra money in Ocean Springs?
Mostly schools, a downtown, and location on the bay.
The Ocean Springs School District earned an A in the Mississippi Department of Education's 2025-26 accountability grades, released in October 2026, with 763 points. That tied Long Beach for the second-highest total in the state. It's been at or near the top of the state for years. For a lot of families, that's the whole reason they're shopping here, and it's baked into the price.
One note on those numbers. The 2025-26 grades are the first under the state's tougher standards, so don't compare this year's points to older reports. It's a new scale.
Then there's downtown. Government Street has the shops, restaurants and festivals people picture when they think of Ocean Springs, and Front Beach is a short drive away. Older streets near downtown sell on character and walkability as much as square footage.
Outside city limits, Gulf Hills carries the Ocean Springs mailing address with its own feel. So does Belle Fontaine Beach.
One catch. A 39564 address doesn't guarantee Ocean Springs schools. St. Martin uses that zip but sits in the Jackson County School District. That isn't a bad outcome. Jackson County earned an A in the 2025-26 grades, and St. Martin High earned an A too. It's just a different district, so check the actual address with the district before you buy for schools.
What does Gautier offer that Ocean Springs doesn't?
More house for the money, quieter streets, and a lot of water and woods.
The Pascagoula-Gautier School District earned a B in the 2025-26 grades, with 651 points. Gautier High School earned a C. It's still a different tier than Ocean Springs, and you should know that going in. Look up the specific school your address is zoned for, not just the district.
What Gautier has is room. You'll find bigger lots, newer subdivisions, and homes on the Pascagoula River and Graveline Bayou. Shepard State Park and the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge are both right here. Gautier also moves faster. Redfin had a 22-day median time on market for the three months ending August 2026, versus 47 days in Ocean Springs for the three months ending June.
How do the commutes compare?
It comes down to which direction you drive every day.
If you work at Ingalls or anywhere in Pascagoula, Gautier wins. It's roughly 10 to 15 minutes off-peak, compared to about 20 from Ocean Springs. If you're headed west to Biloxi or Keesler, Ocean Springs wins. Biloxi is about 10 minutes across the bay, and Keesler is around 15. From Gautier, Biloxi is closer to 25.
Those are rough off-peak estimates. Drive your real route at the time you'd actually be on the road before you commit.
Is flood risk different in Ocean Springs and Gautier?
Not by zip code. It's about the same in both, so judge each lot on its own.
First Street data on Redfin shows about 68% of properties in both 39564 and 39553 at risk of severe flooding over the next 30 years. Both towns have plenty of homes on the bay, a bayou or the river, and plenty on higher ground. Two houses a mile apart in either town can have completely different flood pictures.
That's why I tell buyers in both places to ask for the elevation certificate. Then quote the address with an insurance agent before writing an offer. Your insurance bill can easily close or widen the price gap between these two towns.
Which one should you choose?
Pick Ocean Springs if schools and downtown are your top priorities and the budget stretches. Pick Gautier if you want the most house for the money or you work east toward Pascagoula.
A lot of buyers start in Ocean Springs and end up in Gautier once they see the payment difference. Others look at Gautier, then decide the school district is worth the extra $300 a month. Neither choice is wrong. Just make it on purpose, with real numbers for the specific houses you're looking at.
By the Numbers
Ocean Springs (39564) median sale price, three months ending June 2026: about $304,000 (Redfin)
Gautier (39553) median sale price, three months ending August 2026: about $205,000 (Redfin)
Price per square foot: $156 in Ocean Springs vs. $129 in Gautier
Price gap on an 1,800 square foot home: about $48,600
Median days on market: 47 in Ocean Springs vs. 22 in Gautier
Properties at severe flood risk over 30 years: about 68% in both zips
2025-26 district grades: Ocean Springs A (763 points), Pascagoula-Gautier B (651 points)
30-year fixed average as of October 8, 2026: 7.40% (Freddie Mac)
The Bottom Line
Ocean Springs and Gautier share a county and a coastline, but they're priced for different buyers. Ocean Springs charges a premium for schools, downtown and a quick hop to Biloxi. Gautier gives you more room and a shorter drive east. Compare actual houses on price per square foot, schools by address, and insurance quotes, and the right choice usually becomes clear. Our buyer's guide walks through the steps.
Ready to look? Browse Ocean Springs homes for sale. Then compare them with Gautier homes for sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gautier cheaper than Ocean Springs?
Yes. Redfin data from mid-2026 shows about $129 a square foot in Gautier versus $156 in Ocean Springs, roughly a 21% difference.
Are Ocean Springs schools better than Gautier schools?
On the 2025-26 state grades, the Ocean Springs School District earned an A with 763 points, and the Pascagoula-Gautier School District earned a B with 651 points. Check the specific school zoned for any address you're considering.
Does an Ocean Springs address mean Ocean Springs schools?
Not always. St. Martin uses the 39564 zip but is in the Jackson County School District, which earned an A in the 2025-26 grades. Confirm the address with the district.
Is Gautier or Ocean Springs better for Ingalls workers?
Gautier is usually closer, roughly 10 to 15 minutes to Pascagoula off-peak versus about 20 from Ocean Springs.
Which has more flood risk, Ocean Springs or Gautier?
About the same by zip code. First Street data shows roughly 68% of properties in both zips at severe flood risk over 30 years, so check the elevation and insurance quote for each house.
Sources
Redfin, 39564 Housing Market (median sale price, price per square foot, days on market and flood risk, three months ending June 2026): https://www.redfin.com/zipcode/39564/housing-market
Redfin, 39553 Housing Market (median sale price, price per square foot, days on market and flood risk, three months ending August 2026): https://www.redfin.com/zipcode/39553/housing-market
WXXV, South Mississippi school districts earn high marks under tougher state accountability standards, October 2026 (2025-26 district grades and points): https://www.wxxv25.com/south-mississippi-school-districts-earn-high-marks-under-tougher-state-accountability-standards-for-2025-26-school-year/
WLOX, South Mississippi schools earn top grades under new MDE standards, October 2026 (2025-26 high school grades): https://www.wlox.com/2026/10/15/south-mississippi-schools-earn-top-grades-under-new-mde-standards/
Freddie Mac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey, as of October 8, 2026: https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms
Wikipedia, Gautier, Mississippi (Shepard State Park, rivers and bayous): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautier,_Mississippi
About the Author
Randy Richardson is a Broker Associate and Team Leader of The 4th Right Team at CENTURY 21 J. Carter & Company. He helps buyers and sellers across the Mississippi Gulf Coast compare neighborhoods, price homes, and get to the closing table.
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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