The Gulfport metro is home to 418,452 people (up 6.9% over five years), with a median household income of $61,266. Typical rent of $1,422/month works out to 27.9% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Gulfport's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 24.1% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 13.7% |
| Retail trade | 10.7% |
| Manufacturing | 10.0% |
| Construction | 8.0% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 27.9% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Gulfport market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,422/month suggests a household income around $57,000/year. The metro's median household income is $61,266.
By workforce share: Education & health care (24.1%), Arts, food & hospitality (13.7%), Retail trade (10.7%) (Census ACS 5-year).