Petal, MS Homes for Rent

Petal, a small town in southern Mississippi, is home to about 11,000 residents and is located just 3 miles northeast of Hattiesburg along the Leaf River. Incorporated in 1974, Petal is known for its highly rated Petal School District, which serves over 4,200 students and includes a National Blue Ribbon-winning high school. The district offers top-tier athletic facilities, career and technical education programs, and a renowned show choir program. Petal features a mix of homes from the 1950s to the 1980s, as well as new-construction houses, with larger lots typically found on the outskirts of the city. The local real estate market remains strong, with homes averaging 64 days on the market. Petal boasts several parks, including Petal River Park with mountain biking trails and Friendly Park with baseball fields and a splash pad. Dining options are limited, with local favorites like Sully’s steakhouse and Mom & Dad's Country Cooking, while more chain restaurants and big-box stores are accessible off Evelyn Gandy Parkway. The city’s main thoroughfares, Evelyn Gandy Parkway and U.S. Route 11, provide easy access to downtown Hattiesburg and nearby cities like Jackson, Mobile, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, all within 100 miles. Petal experiences hot, humid summers and mild winters, with occasional tornado threats. Crime rates are lower than the national average, with an average of 12 violent crime incidents and 56 property crime incidents reported annually from 2021 to 2024.