Wiggins, MS 39577: A 2026 Buyer's Guide to Stone County

By Randy Richardson, Broker Associate, The 4th Right Team

Quick Answer: Wiggins is the county seat of Stone County, Mississippi, on Highway 49 about 35 miles north of the Gulf Coast. Redfin reported a median sale price of $181,130 for the three months ending August 2026, and Homes.com puts the median at $212,450. Homes typically sell for about 95% of asking. Wiggins sits at 260 feet of elevation, among the highest towns in the six coastal counties, so storm surge isn't part of the picture. About 4,272 people live in Wiggins and 18,333 in Stone County, which has kept growing. One school district serves the whole county, with one high school, and the district earned an A on the state's 2025-26 accountability grades.

How does Wiggins' elevation change your insurance math?

Wiggins sits at 260 feet. That's a hundred feet above Saucier, which is high ground by Coast standards at 161, and well above Perkinston at 135.

At that height and 35 miles inland, storm surge isn't part of your risk picture. That doesn't make Wiggins hurricane-proof. Wind reaches this far inland and always has, and Stone County is one of the six counties in Mississippi's statutory coast area for the Wind Pool. So you're still buying coastal wind coverage up here. What usually changes is flood. Away from the creeks, many Wiggins properties sit outside mapped flood zones, and that part of a Coast insurance bill can shrink a lot. Here's how insurance changes north of I-10.

Run the real numbers before you decide. Get a quote on a house in Wiggins and a comparable house in Gulfport, then compare the total monthly payment, not just the price. Sometimes the cheaper house forty-five minutes north costs less every single month by a margin that surprises people. It's one more reason to get the insurance quote before the offer.

What school district serves Wiggins, MS?

The Stone County School District, and its boundaries match the county's. In a lot of Coast communities, a mailing address doesn't tell you which district you're in. Here, it does. Every address in Stone County is in the same district.

There's one high school, Stone High School, and the Tomcats wear blue and white. It enrolled 722 students in 2023-2024, with about 13 students per teacher. The district runs four schools: Stone High, Stone Middle, Stone Elementary, and Perkinston Elementary. It served about 2,334 students in 2020-2021, with roughly 14 students per teacher.

It's an A-rated district. On the Mississippi Department of Education's 2025-26 accountability grades, released in October 2026, the Stone County School District earned an A with 701 points. Stone High School earned a B. These are the first grades under the state's tougher standards, so don't compare them to older reports. Check the Mississippi Succeeds Report Card for the latest grade before you make a decision on the letter. What you can count on is small class ratios and no zoning guesswork.

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 Madison Hatten, one of the area's original homesteaders. By 1910 it had 980 residents and served as headquarters for the Finkbine Lumber Company. On January 21, 1910, a fire destroyed more than half the business district in about two hours, taking 41 businesses and the railroad depot with it.

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 about two miles from town off Highway 29. It covers 1,900 acres around a 600-acre reservoir, with camping, cabins, swimming, water slides, fishing, and a disc golf course that opened in 2024. It's run by the Pat Harrison Waterway District, a state agency.

The farm side is real, too. U-pick farms and blueberry farms dot the area, and local listings mention them constantly. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's Perkinston campus is a short drive north.

How much do homes cost in Wiggins in 2026?

Less than most of the Coast, though the sources don't agree on exactly how much. Redfin reported a median sale price of $181,130 for the three months ending August 2026, up 11.5% from a year earlier. Homes.com shows a median of $212,450, with 49 homes sold over the past twelve months. Movoto shows a September 2026 median list price of $205,000, at about $132 per square foot.

Don't read too much into that 11.5% jump. Redfin counted just 12 sales in August. When that few homes set the median, one bigger house swings the number. Price a Wiggins home off comparable sales with similar land and square footage, not a monthly median.

The number that matters most to a buyer here is the negotiating room. Redfin shows homes selling at about 95.3% of list price, typically around 5% below asking, with a median of 66 days on market. Movoto shows a median of 74 days. Redfin rates Wiggins as somewhat competitive.

Read that plainly. If you're buying in Wiggins, you usually have more room to negotiate than you would closer to the water. If you're selling in Wiggins, your list price needs to account for buyers who expect to negotiate.

The inventory skews rural. You'll see manufactured homes on acreage, modest three-bedroom houses, newer builds, and bigger homes on land. Many properties outside town run on a well and septic instead of 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.

Check the fire protection class rating for the address, too, since it affects your premium.

Is Stone County growing?

Yes. Stone County counted 18,333 residents in the 2020 Census, up from 17,786 in 2010 and 13,622 in 2000. Estimates put it near 19,654 in 2025. It's part of the Gulfport-Biloxi metro area.

One honest wrinkle. The city of Wiggins itself dipped slightly, from 4,390 in 2010 to 4,272 in 2020. The growth is happening across the county, mostly outside town. Population growth doesn't guarantee appreciation. But a county that keeps adding people 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 miles north of the Coast on Highway 49. Plan on roughly 45 minutes to Gulfport and 45 to 50 minutes to the beach, longer in traffic. Hattiesburg is about 40 minutes north. Saucier sits between Wiggins and Gulfport, about 20 minutes south. These are rough off-peak estimates, not measured averages.

That commute is the price of the elevation and the affordability. For a remote worker, a Stone County employee, or someone who only heads to the Coast now and then, 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 sale price: $181,130, three months ending August 2026, up 11.5% (Redfin)
Median home price: $212,450, with 49 sales over twelve months (Homes.com)
Median list price: $205,000, about $132 per square foot, September 2026 (Movoto)
Sale-to-list ratio: about 95.3% (Redfin, August 2026)
Median days on market: 66 (Redfin) to 74 (Movoto)
City population, 2020 Census: 4,272
Stone County population: 18,333 in 2020, estimated 19,654 in 2025
Elevation: 260 feet
Stone County School District, 2025-26 state grade: A, 701 points
Stone High School enrollment: 722 (2023-2024)

The Bottom Line

Wiggins is where you go when the coastal insurance quote breaks your budget. At 260 feet and 35 miles inland, surge leaves the equation, though wind coverage doesn't. Prices run well below most of the Coast, and buyers usually close a few percent under asking. You also get one county-wide, A-rated school district with no zoning guesswork, a big water park at the edge of town, and a county that keeps growing. The cost is the drive. Forty-five minutes to Gulfport is a real daily expense. 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.

Keep reading: Saucier, MS 39574: High Ground, Acreage, and 2026 Prices and Moving From Mobile to Gulfport, MS: North of I-10 Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wiggins, MS a good place to live?
For buyers who want affordability, land, and no storm surge risk, yes. Wiggins sits at 260 feet and about 35 miles inland, has one county-wide, A-rated school district, and offers Flint Creek Water Park and De Soto National Forest nearby. The main trade-off is a drive of about 45 minutes to Gulfport.

How much does a house cost in Wiggins, MS?
Wiggins generally prices below most of the Coast, but so few homes sell each month that published medians swing a lot. Recent comparable sales with similar land and square footage are the best guide. Homes have typically sold a few percent below asking, which gives buyers some room to negotiate.

What school district serves Wiggins, MS?
The Stone County School District, whose boundaries match the county's. It earned an A with 701 points on the 2025-26 state grades. It runs Stone High School, Stone Middle School, Stone Elementary School, and Perkinston Elementary School. Stone High is the county's only high school.

Does Wiggins, MS flood?
Storm surge isn't a factor at 260 feet and 35 miles inland. Creek and rainfall flooding can still affect specific parcels, especially near Flint Creek and other waterways, so check the FEMA flood zone for the exact address. Stone County is also in Mississippi's coastal wind area, so wind coverage still matters.

How far is Wiggins from Gulfport?
About 35 miles north on Highway 49, or roughly 45 minutes. Hattiesburg is about 40 minutes north, and the beach is about 45 to 50 minutes south.

Sources

Redfin, Wiggins MS Housing Market (median sale price, homes sold, sale-to-list ratio, days on market, and competitiveness, three months ending August 2026, checked September 2026): https://www.redfin.com/city/20125/MS/Wiggins/housing-market
Homes.com, Wiggins MS (median home price and twelve-month sales count, checked September 2026): https://www.homes.com/wiggins-ms/
Movoto, Wiggins MS (median list price, price per square foot, and days on market, September 2026): https://www.movoto.com/wiggins-ms/
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/
Wikipedia, Wiggins, Mississippi (elevation, 2010 and 2020 Census population, incorporation, name origin, timber history, 1910 fire): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiggins,_Stone_County,_Mississippi
Wikipedia, Stone County, Mississippi (county population by census, 2025 estimate, metro area): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_County,_Mississippi
Wikipedia, Stone County School District (district boundaries, enrollment, schools, student-teacher ratio): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_County_School_District
Wikipedia, Stone High School (enrollment, student-teacher ratio, mascot, colors): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_High_School_(Mississippi)
Wikipedia, Flint Creek Water Park (acreage, reservoir, operator, location, amenities): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint_Creek_Water_Park
Wikipedia, Saucier (elevation comparison): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saucier,_Mississippi
Wikipedia, Perkinston (elevation comparison): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perkinston,_Mississippi
Mississippi Code Section 83-34-1 (coast area counties for the Windstorm Underwriting Association): https://law.justia.com/codes/mississippi/title-83/chapter-34/section-83-34-1/

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About the Author
Randy Richardson is a Broker Associate and Team Leader of The 4th Right Team at CENTURY 21 J. Carter & Company. He serves buyers and sellers across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

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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