Mississippi, also known as the Magnolia State, has a culture known for its hospitality and patriotism. Although many residents moved out of Mississippi during the COVID-19 pandemic (especially millennials) in search of better living amenities, jobs, and education opportunities, the low cost of living is still very appealing to those looking for a move to a southern state with traditional values. If you’re looking for well-established Mississippi movers, we recommend any of the movers on this page, but our top moving choice is International Van Lines.
Compare Mississippi moving companies
Moving company | Move type | Move.org rating | Cost | Learn more |
| Full-service (long distance) | 
| $$$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Full-service (local) | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Moving container | 
| $$$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Truck rental | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices | |
| Hourly labor | 
| $$ | Check Prices Check Prices |
International Van Lines—Best long-distance moving company
International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving company. It can move you anywhere in the country and is upfront about its prices (most moving companies aren’t). IVL also offers substantial discounts if you’re a senior or need to ship a car. Plus, the moving company provides 30 days of free storage to provide a buffer when moving into your new home. On the downside, it has below-average customer reviews and annoying website pop-up ads.
Pros
Transparent pricing
Local and long-distance moving
15% car shipping discount
15% senior discount
30 days of free storage 
Cons
Below-average customer reviews
Annoying pop-up ads First National Van Lines—Best local moving company
First National Van Lines is our pick for the best local moving company. While most moving brokers focus on helping you move between states, FNVL’s expertise enables you to move within the same state. It has a network of movers in nearly all US cities and receives above-average customer reviews. First National Van Lines can also give you a quote virtually or in person and provides attractive storage options. For example, it offers all customers a free month of storage and a remote video stream of their storage space. On the downside, FNVL’s website isn’t always up-to-date.
Pros
Services most U.S. cities
Excellent customer reviews
In-home and virtual quotes
30 days of free storage
Remote video storage Cons
Out-of-date website PODS—Best moving container company
PODS is one of your best moving options. Think of the company’s containers as storage units that you can hang onto until you've set a date with a driver to pick up and hook onto the back of a specialized truck. A PODS truck drops off a moving container at your home. Once you load it, PODS picks the container up and transports it to your new home, where you unload it. The container company has top-notch customer reviews, excellent storage options, and nationwide availability. And despite confusing invoices, PODS has some of the lowest rates for moving containers in the United States. In some cases, it's even more convenient and cheaper than rental trucks.
Pros
Low prices
Multiple container sizes
Lots of storage options
Positive customer reviews
46-state availability Cons
Confusing prices Penske—Best moving truck company
Penske Truck Rental is our pick for the best moving truck company. Renting a truck is the cheapest way to move, and Penske brings a lot to the table. It offers local and long-distance moving services everywhere in the country (except Alaska), provides reliable reservations, and has moving discounts. In addition, Penske has the highest customer satisfaction rating of any rental truck company. So if you’re able to pack, load, and drive, there’s no better option than Penske Truck Rental.
Pros
Lowest moving prices
Local and long-distance rentals
Excellent customer reviews
Moving discounts
Reliable reservations Cons
No service in Alaska HireAHelper—Best hourly moving labor company
HireAHelper is an excellent solution if you need help with only a few parts of the moving process. The company’s professional contractors can help you with everything from packing and loading to furniture assembly and junk removal. It’s also easy to find, with nearly 5,000 locations in all 50 states. Plus, HireAHelper movers get excellent customer reviews. Just be aware that you must hire your workers for at least two hours. It’s not cheap compared to other hourly moving labor companies, but customer reviews suggest the premium price is worth it.
Pros
Professional contractors
Packing and loading services
4,750+ locations
50-state availability
Positive customer reviews Cons
High prices
Two-hour minimum Move.org's top pick
International Van Lines is our pick for the best long-distance moving service. It has a vast network of cross-country movers, provides one month of free storage, and offers military and senior discounts. Want to move with Move.org's #1 pick?
What type of moving company is right for you?
Professional movers
They handle it all.
Professional movers load your stuff, ship it to your new home, and unload it all for you. It’s the easiest—but most expensive—option. Learn more.
Containers
You load, they ship.
You load up all your belongings, but the movers transport your container to your new home. It’s the middle road for effort and cost. Learn more.
Moving truck rentals
You do all the work.
Worried about costs? Rent a truck, load it yourself, drive it to your new home, and unload all your things. You do it all—and save a lot. Learn more.
What to know about living in Mississippi
Population
More than 2.98 million people currently call Mississippi home.1 Ethnic diversity in Mississippi is average compared to other states in the US. While the majority of the population is White (56%), Mississippi also has a substantial number of Black residents (38%).1 Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4%, while those of multi-racial or Asian descent make up 2%.1 A little over 2% of the population was born in another country, and close to 4% of households speak another language aside from English, the most common being Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese.1
Other noteworthy demographics:
- More than 51% of the population in Mississippi are women.2
- More than 12% of residents under 65 live with a disability.2
- 86% of the population has a high school diploma or higher.2
Employment
There are more than 1.18 million people employed in Mississippi,1 with an unemployment rate of 4%.3 The most common jobs are truck drivers, sales workers, registered nurses, and elementary and middle school teachers. Additionally, the most common employment sectors are elementary and secondary schools, restaurants and food services, and general medical and surgical hospitals. The average salary in Mississippi is $42,700 annually or $20.53 per hour.4
Cost of living
The cost of living is 16% lower in Mississippi than the national average, but this varies by city. For example, the cost of living is 5% higher than the state average in Meridian, and 4% lower than the state average in Jackson. Housing costs are some of the most affordable in the US, about 34% lower than the national average. And you’ll also pay less, on average, for utilities, transportation, healthcare, and groceries in Mississippi as well.5 A single adult needs about $32,500 per year, on average, to make ends meet.6
Politics
Mississippi voted Republican in the most recent presidential election. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith are the two senators representing Mississippi, and Tate Reeves is the governor. While it has not always been a singularly Republican state, Mississippi has not voted for a Democratic candidate since the year 2000—which is not altogether surprising for a socially conservative, Bible-belt state.
Currently, decision makers seek to address education, public safety, healthcare, workforce development, and economic growth after COVID.8
Which long-distance movers have the best quality?
American Van Lines is our pick for the highest-quality interstate moving company. It’s expensive, but the company has decades of experience moving high-value items like pianos and artwork.
Best Mississippi movers FAQ
Mississippi is nicknamed the Magnolia State and the Hospitality State, and is known as one of the most religious and hospitable states in the country. Aside from religion though, residents take their music and food very seriously—especially as the birthplace of Elvis.
Patriotism is also at its peak in Mississippi as it’s famous for the invention of Memorial Day. And many residents are outspoken in their political views, so it wouldn’t be uncommon for you to see a Confederate flag displayed.
Finally, it’s worth noting that Mississippi has a humid, almost-tropical climate, where heavy rainfalls, thunderstorms, and tropical storms occur frequently (so pack an umbrella and rainboots!).9
The top reasons Mississippians moved out of Mississippi in 2020 included a desire to be closer to areas with better amenities and job opportunities. In fact, the largest percentage of people leaving were working-age people, especially millennials.10,11 During the pandemic, more than 11,000 residents moved to other southern states including Texas and Florida, in search of better job and education opportunities.
However, the low cost of living and scenic landscapes in Mississippi are still very appealing to some, and continue to draw new residents.
If you are looking to make a move to or from Mississippi, we recommend moving with International Van Lines, our top-rated mover. You can expect transparent pricing, high customer satisfaction, optional packing services, and senior discounts.
Your liveable wage in Mississippi depends on your living situation and household size. For example, a single adult needs about $32,500 annually (before taxes) or $15.63 per hour, on average, to meet basic living needs. While two working adults with two children would each need to make $19.00 per hour ($74,201 annually) to manage their household’s living needs.6
A storage unit in Mississippi costs an average of about $89 per month for a non-climate-controlled option, but this will vary depending on availability, location, unit size, and the self-storage company.12
Methodology
We conducted intensive research to identify the best moving companies for long-distance moves and local moves, in addition to container moves, truck rentals, and hourly moving labor:
- Compare pricing transparency. We gather quotes, check for binding estimates, and read customer reviews about pricing to ensure each moving company’s prices are trustworthy.
- Review accreditation. We check every company’s records in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s database to confirm companies are properly authorized to transport household goods.
- Mystery shopping. We review every company’s website, pose as customers in calls to companies, and read customer reviews to analyze every company’s moving services, transit protection, and customer service. We also interview actual customers to learn how their moves went from start to finish.
- Site visits. We invite moving companies to our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, to share data and expertise. We verify the information they provide by comparing it to data gathered through independent research and interviews with other movers.
- Regular review. We routinely repeat this process to update our recommendations to reflect current data and trends. We also revise each review annually and make updates throughout the year.
Sources
- DataUSA, “Mississippi.” Accessed January 28, 2023.
- The United States Census Bureau, “QuickFacts: Mississippi.” Accessed January 28, 2023.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Economy at a Glance.” Accessed January 28, 2023.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.” Accessed January 28, 2023.
- RentCafe, “Cost of Living in Mississippi.” Accessed January 28, 2023.
- Patrick Price, Jerry Insurance, “How High is the Cost of Living in Mississippi?” Published August 30, 2022. Accessed January 28, 2023.
- BallotPedia, “Presidential voting trends in Mississippi.” Accessed January 28, 2023.
- Office of Governor Tate Reeves, “Key Initiatives.” Accessed January 28, 2023.
- Spyder Moving and Storage, “What you need to know before moving to Mississippi.” Accessed January 28, 2023.
- Michael Newsom, University of Mississippi News, “UM Experts Warn About Consequences of Population Loss,” Published February 22, 2022. Accessed January 28, 2023.
- Roslyn Anderson, WLBT, “Mississippi reportedly losing population while many in nation move south,” Published February 23, 2021. Accessed January 28, 2023.
- Sparefoot, “15 Cheap Storage Units in Jackson, MS.” Accessed January 28, 2023.
