Wiggins, MS: A 2026 Buyer's Guide to Stone County

Quick Answer: Wiggins is the county seat of Stone County, Mississippi, sitting on Highway 49 about 35 to 40 miles north of Gulfport. Recent data puts the median sale price between $202,000 and $222,450, with Zillow showing an average home value of $174,477. The city sits at 260 feet of elevation, higher than anywhere on the coast. About 4,272 people live in Wiggins and 18,333 in Stone County, which is one of the few areas in south Mississippi actually gaining population. The whole county is served by one school district with one high school.

The elevation changes your insurance math

Wiggins sits at 260 feet. Waveland is at 20. D'Iberville is at 13. Gautier is at 6.6. Even Saucier, which is high ground by coastal standards, comes in at 161.

At 260 feet and 35 miles inland, storm surge is not part of your risk picture. That does not make Wiggins hurricane-proof, since wind damage reaches this far inland and always has. But the flood and surge portion of a coastal insurance bill largely disappears up here, and for buyers who've been quoted a number on the beach that made their eyes water, that difference is the entire reason to look at Stone County.

Run the actual numbers before you decide. Get a quote on a house in Wiggins and a comparable house in Gulfport and compare the total monthly payment, not just the price. Sometimes the cheaper house forty minutes north costs less every single month by a margin that surprises people.

One county, one district, one high school

Every other community on this coast comes with a zoning warning. In Bay St. Louis you might be in two districts. In Gautier you might be in three. In Ocean Springs, a St. Martin address is a different district entirely.

Wiggins doesn't have that problem. The Stone County School District's boundaries match the county's boundaries. There's one high school, Stone High School, and everybody in the county goes there. It enrolls about 722 students with a 13-to-1 student-teacher ratio, and the Tomcats wear blue and white. The district serves roughly 2,334 students total across Stone High, Stone Middle, Stone Elementary, and Perkinston Elementary, with a district-wide student-teacher ratio near 14 to 1.

You'll see local listings describe it as an A-rated district. That may well be current, but state accountability grades change every year, so check the Mississippi Department of Education report card before you make a decision based on the letter. What you can count on is the small ratios and the fact that no address in the county leaves you guessing about zoning.

What is Wiggins actually like?

A small county seat with timber in its bones. Wiggins incorporated in 1904 and took its name from Wiggins Hatten, father of one of the area's original homesteaders. By 1910 it had 980 residents and was booming on timber, serving as headquarters for the Finkbine Lumber Company. That same January, a fire destroyed more than half the business district in about two hours.

Today it's a working small town with a courthouse square, surrounded by farmland, creeks, and De Soto National Forest. Flint Creek Water Park sits right at the edge of town off Highway 29, covering 1,900 acres with camping, swimming, and boating on the reservoir. It's drawn hundreds of thousands of visitors a year.

The agricultural side is real. Local listings routinely mention proximity to Charlie's U-Pick-It, Williams Family Farm, and Bounds Blueberry Farm. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's Perkinston campus is a short drive north.

How much do homes cost in Wiggins in 2026?

Cheaper than anywhere on the coast except Pascagoula and Moss Point. Movoto listed an August 2026 median list price of $202,000 at about $131 per square foot. Homes.com showed a median home price of $222,450 with an average of $244,748 and 50 homes sold over twelve months. Zillow's average home value came in at $174,477, down 1.2%. Redfin property data has shown medians ranging from $210,000 to $250,000 depending on the month.

The number that matters most to a buyer here isn't the median. It's the negotiating room. Redfin has shown a sale-to-list ratio around 94.7% and describes the market as not very competitive, with homes selling roughly 6% below asking. Days on market have run between 74 and 83 in recent reports.

Read that plainly. If you're buying in Wiggins, you have leverage that doesn't exist in Ocean Springs or Long Beach. If you're selling in Wiggins, your list price needs to account for the fact that buyers here expect to negotiate and the data says they win.

The inventory skews rural. Recent listings have included manufactured homes on acreage, three-bedroom houses around $139,000 to $185,000, homes in the $225,000 to $285,000 range, and larger estates well past $400,000. Many properties run on well and septic rather than city utilities. If you're looking outside the city limits, add a well inspection, a water quality test, and a septic inspection to your due diligence, and check the fire protection class rating for the address since it affects your premium.

Stone County is growing, which is worth noticing

Stone County recorded 18,333 residents in the 2020 Census, up from 17,786 in 2010 and 13,622 in 2000. Estimates put it near 19,654 by 2025.

That matters because most of the towns south of here are flat or shrinking. Pascagoula is down. Moss Point is down. Waveland is down. Stone County has grown in every census going back decades. Population growth doesn't guarantee appreciation, and prices here have been soft lately. But a county adding people while its neighbors lose them is a county worth watching.

How far is Wiggins from Gulfport, Hattiesburg, and the beach?

This is the honest trade-off. Wiggins sits about 35 to 40 miles north of Gulfport on Highway 49, so plan on 45 minutes to the coast, longer in traffic. Hattiesburg is roughly the same distance north. The beach is about an hour. Saucier is halfway between, around 20 minutes south.

That commute is the price of the elevation and the affordability. For a remote worker, a Stone County employee, or someone who only goes to the coast occasionally, it's a fine trade. For a daily Gulfport or Biloxi commuter, it's real time and real fuel, five days a week.

By the Numbers

Median price: $202,000 to $222,450, depending on source
Zillow average home value: $174,477, down 1.2%
Sale-to-list ratio: about 94.7%, roughly 6% below asking
Days on market: about 74 to 83
Homes sold in twelve months: about 50 in the city
City population, 2020 Census: 4,272
Stone County population: 18,333 in 2020, estimated 19,654 by 2025
Elevation: 260 feet
Stone County School District enrollment: about 2,334 across four schools

The Bottom Line

Wiggins is where you go when the coastal insurance quote breaks your budget. At 260 feet and 35 miles inland, surge risk leaves the equation, prices run below every coastal town but two, and buyers are closing about 6% under asking. You also get one county-wide school district with no zoning guesswork, a real state park at the edge of town, and a county that's actually growing. The cost is the drive. Forty-five minutes to Gulfport is a genuine daily expense, and prices here have been soft rather than climbing. Price the insurance both ways, be honest about the commute, and this is a smart buy for the right household. When you're ready to look, start with homes for sale in Wiggins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wiggins, MS a good place to live?
For buyers who want affordability, land, and low hurricane surge risk, yes. Wiggins sits at 260 feet and 35 to 40 miles inland, has one county-wide school district, and offers Flint Creek Water Park and De Soto National Forest access. The main trade-off is a 45-minute drive to Gulfport and the coast.

How much does a house cost in Wiggins, MS?
Recent data puts the median between $202,000 and $222,450, with Zillow showing an average home value of $174,477. Homes have been selling around 6% below list price after 74 to 83 days on market, which gives buyers real negotiating room.

What school district serves Wiggins, MS?
The Stone County School District, whose boundaries match the county's. It serves about 2,334 students across Stone High School, Stone Middle School, Stone Elementary School, and Perkinston Elementary School. Stone High is the county's only high school, with about 722 students and a 13-to-1 student-teacher ratio.

Does Wiggins, MS flood?
Storm surge is not a factor at 260 feet of elevation and 35 miles inland. Creek and rainfall flooding can still affect specific parcels, particularly near Flint Creek and the surrounding waterways. Check the FEMA flood zone for the exact address. Wind damage from hurricanes does reach this far inland, so wind coverage still matters.

How far is Wiggins from Gulfport?
About 35 to 40 miles north on Highway 49, or roughly 45 minutes. Hattiesburg is a similar distance to the north, and the beach is about an hour away.

Sources

Movoto — August 2026 median list price, price per square foot, days on market
Homes.com — Median and average home price, twelve-month sales volume
Zillow — Average home value and year-over-year change
Redfin — County median, days on market, sales volume
Wikipedia — 2020 Census population, elevation, 1904 incorporation, timber history, 1910 fire
Wikipedia — County population, 2025 estimate, county formation
Wikipedia — District enrollment, schools, student-teacher ratio
Wikipedia — High school enrollment, ratio, mascot
Wikipedia — Park acreage, establishment, visitor counts

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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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