Top 10 Reasons to Move to Gulfport

Categories: Gulfport Facilities, Local, Mississippi Facilities, Moving

If you are looking for a new place to call home, look no further because Gulfport is the place to be. Being the second biggest city in Mississippi, this city has a lot to offer. Here are the top ten reasons you should make Gulfport, Mississippi, your new home.

  1. Education

The schools on the Gulf Coast are some of the highest-rated in the state of Mississippi. Gulfport High School ranks as one of the top ten public schools in the state. Gulfport High School ranks highly in the state for diversity and college prep. Gulfport High School’s athletic program is not only the best in Harrison County but also one of the best in the state.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is one of the most affordable junior colleges in the country. Upperclassmen high schoolers can get a head start on their college career by taking dual credit courses while in high school. MGCCC will help prepare students for university. If college isn’t your thing, then MGCCC has a variety of programs that can get you started in the workforce, such as nursing, IT, law enforcement, culinary, audio/video, physical therapy, welding, cosmetology, automotive, electric lineman, EMT/paramedic, computer programming, computer networking, hotel & restaurant management, network security and much more.

There are even options for higher education at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park campus in nearby Long Beach, MS, and William Carey University right next door in Biloxi.

  1. Retirement

Gulfport is a popular destination for retirement. With affordable living options, various senior living communities, health care options, recreational activities, and entertainment options, there’s no better place than Gulfport to hang it up and live life easily.

  1. Food

Gulfport offers a variety of great-tasting restaurants. From seafood to soul food, you can get just about any dish in Gulfport. Louisiana’s culture heavily influences the Mississippi Gulf Coast, so you’ll have no problem finding a New Orleans-style dish at home. Gulfport is home to great restaurants such as Patio 44, Shaggy’s, The Rack House Steak & Spirits, Half Shell Oyster House of Gulfport, Murky Waters Blues & BBQ, Salute Italian Seafood, Tony’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, and so much more.

  1. Local Events

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is home to popular events such as Crusin’ the Coast and Scrapin’ the Coast. These events run annually and are the biggest events in the state. Crusin’ the Coast brings over 10,000 classic cars and is known as “America’s Largest Block Party” with an economic impact of $36 million.

  1. Mardi Gras

This French holiday brings many parties and parades to the Coast and surrounding states. A bunch of parades and parties start weeks before the end of the holiday on Fat Tuesday. So come on out and catch some beads and moon pies.

  1. Livability

The cost of living in Gulfport is lower than the national average. The city has its own airport with affordable flights to destinations like Orlando. The weather is favorable for those the dislike cold weather with the high number of days with temperatures 50-90 F. It’s not too loud and not too quiet. The rent is also below the national average by 24%, while the home value is 42% under the national average. Gulfport is in one of the more diverse parts of the state.

  1. Location

One of the perks of living in Gulfport is that the location is highly convenient. You’re close to other great Mississippi cities like Biloxi, Ocean Springs, and Bay St. Louis. You’re also a little over an hour away from a day trip to New Orleans, Mobile, and Hattiesburg. If you’re looking for a fun getaway, Gulfport is about a little over five hours from Houston, Memphis, and Atlanta.

  1. Recreational Activities

It’s hard to get bored in Gulfport with the variety of activities at your disposal. There’s the Gulf Islands Water Park, Mississippi Aquarium, Jones Park, Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, Altitude Trampoline, Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum, and Gulfport Premium Outlets, and this isn’t even counting all the activities in neighboring Biloxi.

  1. Casinos

The amount of casinos on the Coast brings in many jobs and tourism for the community. The casinos are home to fantastic restaurants and buffets. The casinos provide great nightlife by hosting music concerts, comedians, boxing, and mixed martial art events.

  1. Family

Southern hospitality is prevalent here in Gulfport. You’ll meet some of the nicest people down here. It will take little time for your friends and neighbors to feel like family, which makes Gulfport a wonderful place to raise a family.